Social Security in Latin America: Pressure Groups, Stratification, and Inequality

Social Security privatization in Latin America.

The new, partially privatized social security system adopted by Chile in 1981 has attracted attention in many parts of the world. Since then, a number of Latin American countries have implemented the Chilean model, with some variations: either with a single- or multi-tier system, or with a period of transition to take care of those in the labor force at the time of the change. The single-tier v...

Social Security in Latin America: Recent Reforms and Challenges

Inequality in Latin America: Determinants and Consequences

Food Security in Latin America

Historical Roots of Inequality in Latin America

Following Engerman and Sokoloff (1997, 2000, 2002) and Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson (2001, 2002), the authors of this chapter argue that the contemporary situation cannot be understood without recognizing that extreme inequality emerged soon after the Europeans began to colonize the Americas half a millennium ago, and has been reflected in the institutions they put in place. Both this initia...