Crafting Policies to End Poverty in Latin America : The Quiet Transformation

This book provides a theory and evidence to explain the initial decision of governments to adopt a conditional cash transfer program (the most prominent type of anti-poverty program currently in operation in Latin America), and whether such programs are insulated from political manipulations or not. Ana Lorena De La O shows that whether presidents limit their own discretion or not has consequences for the survival of policies, their manipulation, and how effective they are in improving the lives of the poor. This book is the first of its kind to present evidence from all Latin American CCTs. Cover 1 Half title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 List of Figures 11 List of Tables 13 Acknowledgments 15 1 Introduction 17 2 The Universe of Cash Transfer Programs 40 3 Politics of Fighting Poverty 60 4 Explaining Policy Adoption and Design 73 5 Explaining Policy Outcomes 112 6 Conditional Cash Transfers and Clientelism 128 7 The Electoral Bonus of Conditional Cash Transfers 150 8 Conclusions 166 Appendix 175 References 177 Index 191 Examines the politics of conditional cash transfers in Latin America, used to put billions of dollars into the hands of the poorest people, analyzing the social policy, institutional design, development, and consequences of the policy This book provides a theory and evidence explaining the initial decision of governments to adopt a conditional cash transfer program