Poverty and Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean

Download or read book Poverty and Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean written by Quentin Wodon and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report analyzes the evolution of poverty and inequality in the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC) from 1986 to 1996, with projections to 1998. It reviews the policies which have been advocated and/or implemented to reduce poverty. And it provides a number of new research techniques. To achieve these results, the report combines: 1) the results of new empirical work using household surveys for 12 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela); b) short theoretical developments; and a review of the literature on issues related to poverty, inequality, and social policy in LAC, with a focus on the poverty assessments completed by the World Bank. The first two chapters are devoted to measuring poverty and inequality. The next four chapters examine the policies that help reduce poverty. In reviewing these polices, the report follows the framework proposed in the World Development Report 2000-2001. This framework identifies three essential elements for reducing poverty: Chapters 3 and 4 look at opportunities, as provided, among others, by broad-based economic growth and investments in human capital. Chapter 5 discuses security, as provided by social protection systems and safety nets. Chapter 6 focuses on empowerment, whereby the poor are given a voice and institutions take them into consideration.