Recent trends in income distribution

Abstract

Although the region displays considerable resistance to distributive change, in recent years it has made significant, albeit fragile, progress towards lower income concentration. Over the last six years, the income share of the poorest groups has increased slightly in several countries, while that received by the richest decile has decreased. Inequality indices decreased substantially in four of the region’s countries, with only one showing a clear deterioration. Thus, although Latin America is still a highly inequitable region, the deteriorating trend in income distribution evident at the start of this decade, at least, seems to have been halted.