Income Inequality in Latin America: Recent Decline and Prospects for Its Further Reduction

From:
Department for International Development
Published
1 January 2015
Document Type:
Working Paper
Theme:
Economic Growth
Authors:
Cornia, G.A.

Abstract

The paper reviews the extent of the income inequality decline that took place in Latin America in 2002-10 and then focuses on the factors that may explain such decline. These include a lowered skill premium following an expansion of secondary education among the poor, and the adoption of more equalizing tax, labour market subsidies and macro policies by a growing number of progressive governments. Finally, the paper reviews the changes in inequality during 2009-12 and discusses whether and how the recent decline can be sustained over the next decade in the context of sluggish world growth.

Citation

Cornia, G.A. Income Inequality in Latin America: Recent Decline and Prospects for Its Further Reduction. UNU-WIDER, Helsinki, Finland (2015) 30 pp. [WIDER Working Paper No. 2015/020]

Income Inequality in Latin America: Recent Decline and Prospects for Its Further Reduction

Published 1 January 2015
Contents