Towards a New Generation of Social Policies in Latin America. A comparative Analysis
Bernardo Kliksberg
Latin America has a great economic potential, but almost half of its inhabitants are poor and a fifth live under conditions of extreme poverty. One of the most important causes explaining the paradox of potential wealth and daily poverty is that the region presents the worst indicators of social inequality in the world. This inequality is a main challenge for development and is a major factor contributing directly to an increase in poverty levels.
This historical context led to major social disputes, which turned into greater demand for changes of the development model. In the past years, twelve elected presidents were unable to finish their term, not because of military coups but because of social unrest resulting from the fact that they had not addressed the great social debt, which had been growing for years.
In this context, many political initiatives took place, and various new governments started to put in place a set of social policies strikingly different from previous policies.
This paper reviews the actual social situation of the region. It analyzes the concept of "persistent poverty". Data has not improved in the last 25 years (40% of poverty in 1980, 41% in 2005; poverty indicators have grown in absolute and relative terms), the high unemployment levels, the desegregation of families' as a result of poverty, the low levels of education, the health deficit, the paralysis in social mobility, and the growing social exclusion (among the youth, 23,6% are unemployment and do not attend schools). The article offers new approaches to social policy: aid vs. job creation, centralization vs. net, individuals vs. family, etc. In addition, it demystifies this debate by highlighting its slogans and fallacies.
The article also examines the new policies applied in Argentina, the Family Program in Brazil, the Opportunities Program in Mexico, and the Chile Solidarity Program in Chile. Its purpose is to outline the innovative aspects of these programs.
This document presents conclusions towards the future, emphasizing the necessity for broad national agreements in key areas such as: job creation, education, health, micro credit, support for the small and medium enterprise, and other issues that imply a real democratization of the productive opportunities.
It also concludes that, in order to achieve a definitive change in Latin America, new social policies need to be implemented. It is fundamental to replace 100 years of loneliness, poverty and inequity by 100 years of equity and sustainable development. Only this way can there be a return of the right of dignity to the peoples of Latin America.
Boletín Reforme N° 397
