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How committed are Latin American Governments to equity?. Otaviano Canuto Vice President Poverty Reduction and Economic Management World Bank. What explains the decline in inequality?. A stronger labor market associated with fewer jobless workers and higher wages for unskilled workers
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How committed are Latin American Governments to equity? OtavianoCanuto Vice President Poverty Reduction and Economic Management World Bank
What explains the decline in inequality? • A stronger labor market associated with fewer jobless workers and higher wages for unskilled workers • López-Calva and Lustig (2010), Jaramillo and Saavedra (2010) for Peru, Azevedo et al (2012) • Demographic changes and greater female labor force participation • Gray Molina and Yañez (2009) for Bolivia • A more progressive fiscal policy including redistributive public policies through transfers. • López-Calva and Lustig (2010) and Jaramillo and Saavedra (2010) for Peru • A more active role in the labor market where governments took a more pro-union stance and raised minimum wages and pensions • Gasparini and Lustig (2011)
How important were these forces to inequality reduction? Transfers contributed 14% to the decline in inequality for the region. Pensions accounted for 7%. 45% of the reduction in inequality was due to higher labor incomes per hour. Source: Azevedo, Inchauste and Sanfelice, 2012. The World Bank.
How has policy helped to reduce inequality? • Macro stability • (inflation is a regressive tax) • Expansion of access to education and health services • Social protection / safety nets (CCTs)
Maintaining macroeconomic stability… Source: IMF WEO, 2012.
However, this is not enough • Inequality in outcomes continue to be high • Inequality of opportunities perpetuate these trends
TwoLatin-americanchildren: • Probability of finishing 6th grade on time Boywith 4 siblings in a rural home, uneducated head of household, income at extreme povertylevel Childwithonesibling in anurban home, household head hassecondaryeducation, familyincome per capita of US$25 a day
The Case of Brazil It is the best—largest and fastest— performer in reducing inequality Equality of opportunity is a political priority Uses evidence to guide policy
…and the president committed to flatten the slope of this graph by the end of her term...