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A16 LOCAL
Wednesday 16 January 2019

Poverty in Latin America Remained Steady in 2017, but Extreme Poverty Increased to
the Highest Level since 2008, while Inequality has Fallen Notably since 2000

CHILE — The overall poverty
rate – measured by income
– remained stable in 2017
in Latin America, following
increases recorded in 2015
and 2016; however, the
proportion of persons living
in extreme poverty contin-
ued to rise, following the
trend observed since 2015,
according to the report by
the Economic Commission
for Latin America and the
Caribbean (ECLAC).

In 2017, the number of
people living in poverty
reached 184 million (30.2%
of the population), of
whom 62 million live in ex-
treme poverty (10.2% of
the population, the highest
percentage since 2008),
according to the report,
Social Panorama of Latin
America 2018, present-
ed this Tuesday by Alicia
Bárcena, Executive Secre-
tary of the United Nations
regional organization, at a Rica, Panama and Uru- slowed in recent years: from for Sustainable Develop- women in the labor market
press conference held in guay, the main factor was 2002-2008, the average an- ment, especially in coun- continued to be less com-
Santiago, Chile. pensions and transfers re- nual reduction on the index tries with the highest levels pared to men, at 50.2%
ceived by lower-income was 1.3%; for 2008-2014, of poverty and other short- and 74.4% respectively,
According to the Commis- households. “This highlights 0.8%; and for 2014-2017, comings in terms of social while unemployment in
sion’s projections, poverty the importance of provid- it was 0.3%. According to development. women for that year was
in 2018 decreased to 29.6% ing the population living the organization, systems higher (10.4%) than for men
of the population, or 182 in poverty with more re- of social protection have In order to advance to- (7.6%). More than half of
million people (two million sources, combining stron- played an important role in ward greater levels of par- working women (51.8%) are
less than in 2017), while ex- ger wages with the pro- recent years in containing ticipation in the benefits employed in low-produc-
treme poverty remained vision of public transfers income distribution deterio- of development and the tivity sectors, and of those,
steady at 10.2%, i.e. 63 mil- and strengthened systems ration. exercise of rights, progress 82.2% are not affiliated with
lion people (one million of social protection,” said in terms of social inclusion or drawing from a pension
more than in 2017). ECLAC. Despite the context of fiscal and labor inclusion of the system.
adjustments, social spend- population must go hand in
“Although the region did Due to the update in 2015 ing by central governments hand, underscores ECLAC. The low participation by
make significant progress of the methodology used is the main component women in paid work is in
between the past decade by ECLAC to measure in total public spending On average, around 40% contrast to their high par-
and midway through this monetary poverty, and (51.4% in 2016), says the of the employed popu- ticipation in non-paid work
one, there have been set- later revisions implemented Commission. lation of Latin America within the home: in Latin
backs since 2015, particu- by the organization, the fig- earns wages below the America, 77% of non-paid
larly when it comes to ex- ures included in this edition Central government social minimum established per work is done by women,
treme poverty,” warned of the Social Panorama dif- welfare expenditure in 17 country and that propor- according to data from
Alicia Bárcena, calling for fer from those released in Latin American countries tion is much higher among surveys on use of time.
complementary public pol- the last report published in reached a simple average women (48.7%) and young “Without adequate public
icies of social protection, December 2017 and previ- of 11.2% of GDP in 2016, a people aged 15-24 (55.9%). policies to address key is-
labor inclusion and income ous ones. See explanatory slight increase compared The figure rises to 60.3% sues, such as the promotion
redistribution in light of the document (in Spanish). to 2015 and the highest among young women. of women’s training and
challenges ahead. level recorded since 2000. Universal policies must be employment in science,
The report also emphasizes In per capita terms, aver- implemented that respond technology, engineering
In an analysis of the coun- a notable reduction in in- age social spending for the to these differences in or- and mathematics (STEM),
tries with the greatest re- come inequality in the re- countries of Latin America der to close the gaps in to avoid job insecurity and
ductions in poverty in the gion since the beginning of practically doubled be- access that affect differ- to promote co-responsibili-
2012-2017 period, in Chile, 2000. The simple average tween 2002-2016, reaching ent groups of the popula- ty in care systems, women
El Salvador and the Domini- of the Gini Index (where 0 894 dollars. Nevertheless, tion, and that also take into could not only lose out on
can Republic, the increase represents no inequity and this varies greatly among account both the old and the benefits of future jobs,
in income from wages in 1 maximum inequality) for countries and great chal- new risk scenarios that will but also run the risk of per-
lower-income households the 18 countries of Latin lenges still exist when it impact society as a whole, petuating existing gaps
was the source that con- America fell from 0.543 in comes to financing social says ECLAC. and the existing shortfalls of
tributed the most to that 2002 to 0.466 in 2017. How- policies in order to meet the decent work.” concluded
reduction, while in Costa ever, the rate of reduction goals of the 2030 Agenda In 2017, participation by the document. q