Democracy and the Left : Social Policy and Inequality in Latin America

Although inequality in Latin America ranks among the worst in the world, it has notably declined over the last decade, offset by improvements in health care and education, enhanced programs for social assistance, and increases in the minimum wage. In Democracy and the Left, Evelyne Huber and John D. Stephens argue that the resurgence of democracy in Latin America is key to this change. In addition to directly affecting public policy, democratic institutions enable left-leaning political parties to emerge, significantly influencing the allocation of social spending on poverty and inequality. But while democracy is an important determinant of redistributive change, it is by no means the only factor. Drawing on a wealth of data, Huber and Stephens present quantitative analyses of eighteen countries and comparative historical analyses of the five most advanced social policy regimes in Latin America, showing how international power structures have influenced the direction of their social policy. They augment these analyses by comparing them to the development of social policy in democratic Portugal and Spain.;Introduction -- Theoretical framework and methodological approach -- Strategy for redistribution and poverty reduction -- The development of social policy regimes in the ISI period -- The determinants of social spending, inequality, and poverty: quantitative evidence -- Neoliberal reforms and the turn to basic universalism -- Iberia and the advanced Latin American social policy regimes: explaining the different trajectories -- Conclusion. Although Inequality In Latin America Ranks Among The Worst In The World, It Has Notably Declined Over The Last Decade, Offset By Improvements In Health Care And Education, Enhanced Programs For Social Assistance, And Increases In The Minimum Wage. In Democracy And The Left, Evelyne Huber And John D. Stephens Argue That The Resurgence Of Democracy In Latin America Is Key To This Change. In Addition To Directly Affecting Public Policy, Democratic Institutions Enable Left-leaning Political Parties To Emerge, Significantly Influencing The Allocation Of Social Spending On Poverty And Inequality. But While Democracy Is An Important Determinant Of Redistributive Change, It Is By No Means The Only Factor. Drawing On A Wealth Of Data, Huber And Stephens Present Quantitative Analyses Of Eighteen Countries And Comparative Historical Analyses Of The Five Most Advanced Social Policy Regimes In Latin America, Showing How International Power Structures Have Influenced The Direction Of Their Social Policy. They Augment These Analyses By Comparing Them To The Development Of Social Policy In Democratic Portugal And Spain. The Most Ambitious Examination Of The Development Of Social Policy In Latin America To Date, Democracy And The Left Shows That Inequality Is Far From Intractable - A Finding With Crucial Policy Implications Worldwide. -- Publisher. Introduction -- Theoretical Framework And Methodological Approach -- Strategy For Redistribution And Poverty Reduction -- The Development Of Social Policy Regimes In The Isi Period -- The Determinants Of Social Spending, Inequality, And Poverty: Quantitative Evidence -- Neoliberal Reforms And The Turn To Basic Universalism -- Iberia And The Advanced Latin American Social Policy Regimes: Explaining The Different -- Trajectories. Evelyne Huber And John D. Stephens. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 287-316) And Index. Contents 4 Figures 5 Tables 5 Acronyms 6 Preface and Acknowledgments 9 1. Introduction 11 2. Theoretical Framework andMethodological Approach 17 3. Strategy for Redistribution andPoverty Reduction 37 4. The Development of Social Policy Regimes in the lSI Period 47 5. The Determinants of Social Spending, Inequality, and Poverty 62 6. Neoliberal Reforms and the Turn to Basic Universalism 88 7. Iberia and the Advanced LatinAmerican Social Policy Regimes 115 Although inequality in Latin America ranks among the worst in the world, it has notably declined over the years, offset by improvements in health care and education, enhanced programs for social assistance, and increases in the minimum wage. The author argues that the resurgence of democracy in Latin America is key to this change.