TY - UNPB
T1 - The Decline in Inequality in Latin America: How Much, Since When and Why
AU - Lustig, Nora
AU - Lopez-Calva, Luis F.
AU - Ortiz Juarez, Eduardo
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Between 2000 and 2009, the Gini coefficient declined in 13 of 17 Latin American countries for which comparable data exist. The decline was statistically significant and robust to changes in the time interval, inequality measures and data sources. In depth country studies for Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru suggest that there are two phenomena which underlie this trend: (i) a fall in the premium to skilled labor (as measured by returns to education); and (ii) higher and more progressive government transfers. The fall in the premium to skills results from a combination of supply and demand factors and, in Argentina—and to a lesser extent in Brazil—, from more active labor market policies as well.
AB - Between 2000 and 2009, the Gini coefficient declined in 13 of 17 Latin American countries for which comparable data exist. The decline was statistically significant and robust to changes in the time interval, inequality measures and data sources. In depth country studies for Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru suggest that there are two phenomena which underlie this trend: (i) a fall in the premium to skilled labor (as measured by returns to education); and (ii) higher and more progressive government transfers. The fall in the premium to skills results from a combination of supply and demand factors and, in Argentina—and to a lesser extent in Brazil—, from more active labor market policies as well.
M3 - Working paper
T3 - Working Paper Series 211
BT - The Decline in Inequality in Latin America: How Much, Since When and Why
PB - ECINEQ
ER -