scholarly journals Growth, Employment, and Poverty in Latin America

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Macroeconomic Factors ◽  
International Crisis ◽  
Employment Conditions ◽  
Poverty And Inequality

This book examines the links between economic growth, changing employment conditions, and the reduction of poverty in Latin America in the 2000s. Its analysis answers the following broad questions: Has economic growth resulted in gains in standards of living and reductions in poverty via improved labour market conditions in Latin America in the 2000s, and have these improvements halted or been reversed since the international crisis of 2008? How do the rate and character of economic growth, changes in the various employment and earnings indicators, and changes in poverty and inequality indicators relate to each other? Our contribution is an in-depth study of the multi-pronged growth–employment–poverty nexus based on a large number of labour market indicators (twelve employment and earnings indicators and four poverty and inequality indicators) for a large number of Latin American countries (sixteen of them). The book presents a positive and hopeful set of findings for the period 2000 to 2012–13. Economic growth took place and brought about improvements in almost all labour market indicators and consequent reductions in poverty rates. But not all improvements were equal in size or caused by the same things. Some macroeconomic factors were associated with changes in labour market conditions, some of them always in the welfare-improving direction and others always in the welfare-reducing direction. Most countries in the region suffered a deterioration in at least some labour market indicators as a consequence of the international crisis of 2008, but the negative effects were reversed very quickly in most countries.

Introduction and Motivation for the Project

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Its Analysis ◽  
Employment Conditions ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Latin American Countries

This book examines the links between economic growth, changing employment conditions, and the reduction of poverty in Latin America in the 2000s. Its contribution is an in-depth study of the multi-pronged growth–employment–poverty nexus based on a large number of labour market indicators (twelve employment and earnings indicators and four poverty and inequality indicators) for a large number of Latin American countries (sixteen of them). It presents an exhaustive analysis of the growth–employment–poverty nexus which directly relates changes in all labour market indicators to economic growth, and changes in all employment and earnings indicators to changes in poverty. It also bases its analysis on a broader set of labour market indicators than those used in other studies.

Costa Rica

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Comparable Data ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
International Crisis ◽  
Economic Growth Rate ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
General Improvement

In the 2000s, Costa Rica experienced moderate economic growth and a general improvement in labour market conditions. From 2000 to 2012, Costa Rica grew at the Latin American average. Most labour market indicators improved during 2001–9 and 2010–12 (the series with comparable data). However, the unemployment rate increased in both periods, the mix of employment by occupations polarized from 2010 to 2012, and some poverty and inequality indicators increased from 2010 to 2012. The international crisis had substantial negative effects on the economic growth rate, unemployment, poverty, and inequality indicators, and not all of them recovered after the crisis.

El Salvador

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
El Salvador ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Unemployment Rate ◽  
Economic Sector ◽  
Output Level ◽  
International Crisis ◽  
Occupational Position ◽  
Poverty And Inequality

During the 2000s, El Salvador experienced slow economic growth for Latin American standards. The country underwent a recession during the international crisis of 2008, but returned to pre-recession output level in 2011. Changes in labour market conditions were mixed. The unemployment rate fell, and the mix of employment by occupations, economic sector, and education improved slightly. However, the employment mix by occupational position deteriorated, and the share of registered workers and earnings decreased. Most labour indicators were affected adversely by the crisis, and some have yet to return to pre-crisis levels. Most poverty and inequality indicators fell over the period.

Chile

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Unemployment Rate ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
International Crisis ◽  
Occupational Position ◽  
Rapid Economic Growth ◽  
Poverty And Inequality

During the 2000s Chile achieved rapid economic growth and improved most labour market indicators: the unemployment rate fell; the mix of employment by occupational position and sector improved; the educational level of the employed population, the percentage of registered workers, and labour earnings increased; and all poverty and inequality indicators decreased. The economy suffered a recession during the international crisis of 2008, but recovered quickly. The chapter shows that some labour market indicators were negatively affected by the crisis. The unemployment rate was the only indicator that did not return to its pre-crisis level by the end of the period studied.

Changing Labour Market Indicators and the Rate of Economic Growth in Latin America during the 2000s

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
International Crisis ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Latin American Region ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Latin American Countries

The Latin American region exhibited an increase in gross domestic product per capita during the 2000s, an improvement in all employment and earnings indicators, and poverty and inequality reductions. On a country-by-country basis, all Latin American countries exhibited positive GDP per capita growth rates during the 2000s. Most countries experienced substantial improvements in labour market conditions over the period, Honduras being the only exception to this general pattern. Finally, the growth rates of most countries in the region were negatively affected by the international crisis of 2008, which also affected several labour market indicators in the worsening direction. Most labour market indicators had fully or partially recovered by 2012–13.

Paraguay

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Growth Process ◽  
International Crisis ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Market Indicator

During the 2000s Paraguay experienced slow economic growth but improved all labour market indicators. The growth process was erratic. Paraguay underwent a macroeconomic crisis at the beginning of the period, a recession as a consequence of the international crisis of 2008, and a local crisis in 2012. Most labour market indicators improved between 2001 and 2013 following the erratic pattern of GDP. The only labour market indicator that improved almost steadily over the period was the educational level of the employed population. All poverty and inequality indicators exhibited an erratic behaviour over time, but fell overall between 2001 and 2013.

Brazil

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Unemployment Rate ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Occupational Group ◽  
Economic Sector ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Time Poverty ◽  
Poverty And Inequality

During the 2000s, Brazil experienced slow economic growth and a substantial improvement in labour market indicators. From 2001 to 2012, Brazil grew less than the Latin American average. However, the unemployment rate decreased, the employment composition by occupational group, economic sector, and employment position improved, the educational level of workers rose, the share of registered workers increased, and average labour earnings went up. At the same time, poverty and inequality largely diminished. The international economic crisis had a mild effect on the Brazilian economy and some labour market indicators such as the unemployment rate, but the negative effects had been reversed by 2011.

Conclusions from the Cross-Country Analysis

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo Cruces ◽  
Gary S. Fields ◽  
David Jaume ◽  
Mariana Viollaz
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
External Factors ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Country Analysis ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Latin American Countries

In the great majority of Latin American countries in the 2000s, economic growth took place and brought about improvements in almost all labour market indicators and consequent reductions in poverty rates. Across these countries, economic growth was not all that mattered; external factors were particularly important for changes in labour market conditions, while reductions in poverty were strongly related to improvements in earnings and employment indicators. Although the 2008 crisis affected some countries differently from others, nearly all labour market indicators were at least as high or higher by 2012 than immediately before the crisis in all countries but one.

Can Latin America learn from India’s efforts at fighting poverty? The case of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174
Author(s):  
Augusto De Venanzi
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Policy Transfer ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
Rural Employment ◽  
Employment Conditions ◽  
Rural Workforce ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Latin American Region ◽  
Employment Guarantee

AbstractA decade of high economic growth (2003–2013) in Latin America accompanied with high social spending, produced a significant improvement in the living conditions of the region’s population. Household incomes grew, poverty and inequality rates fell, and job opportunities increased. However, beginning in 2013 the economic situation of Latin America experienced a downwards trend. The effects have been felt in reduced income due to the fewer labour opportunities afforded by a decrease in demand and investment, particularly in infrastructure. Moreover, investment in infrastructure has remained stagnant since the late 1990s. The present article is intended as a preliminary study regarding the feasibility of transferring the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act to the Latin American region. The paper contends that such a policy transfer could greatly improve the adverse employment conditions affecting large segments of the Latin American rural workforce and contribute to bridge the area’s rural-urban infrastructure gap.

Migration vs. development? The case of poverty and inequality in Mexico

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustín Escobar Latapi
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
International Migration ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Opportunity Cost ◽  
Inequality Index ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
And Migration

Although the migration – development nexus is widely recognized as a complex one, it is generally thought that there is a relationship between poverty and emigration, and that remittances lessen inequality. On the basis of Latin American and Mexican data, this chapter intends to show that for Mexico, the exchange of migrants for remittances is among the lowest in Latin America, that extreme poor Mexicans don't migrate although the moderately poor do, that remittances have a small, non-significant impact on the most widely used inequality index of all households and a very large one on the inequality index of remittance-receiving households, and finally that, to Mexican households, the opportunity cost of international migration is higher than remittance income. In summary, there is a relationship between poverty and migration (and vice versa), but this relationship is far from linear, and in some respects may be a perverse one for Mexico and for Mexican households.

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