Indigenous People and Poverty in Latin America


Book Description

Indigenous people constitute a large portion of Latin America's population and suffer from severe and widespread poverty. They are more likely than any other groups of a country's population to be poor. This study documents their socioeconomic situation and shows how it can be improved through changes in policy-influenced variables such as education. The authors review the literature of indigenous people around the world and provide a statistical overview of those in Latin America. Case studies profile the indigenous populations in Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru, examining their distribution, education, income, labour force participation and differences in gender roles. A final chapter presents recommendations for conducting future research.




Atlas of Gender and Development How Social Norms Affect Gender Equality in non-OECD Countries


Book Description

Gender inequality holds back not just women but the economic and social development of entire societies. This atlas presents a new measure of gender inequality which examines women’s status according to family situation, physical integrity, son preference, civil liberties and ownership rights.




Social Institutions, Gender Inequality, and Regional Convergence in Developing Countries


Book Description

I. Social institutions and gender inequality -- 1. The Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) -- 1.1. Introduction -- 1.2. The Database -- 1.3. Construction of the Subindices -- 1.3.1. Measuring the Association between Categorical Variables -- 1.3.2. Aggregating Variables to Build a Subindex -- 1.4. The Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) -- 1.5. Results -- 1.5.1. Country Rankings and Regional Patterns -- 1.5.2. Simple Correlation with other Gender-related Indices -- 1.5.3. Regression Analysis -- 1.6. Conclusion -- 1.7. Tables -- 1.8. Figures -- 2. Why care about social inst. related to gender ineq. -- 2.1. Introduction -- 2.2. Social Institutions and Household Decisions -- 2.2.1. Social Institutions and Female Education -- 2.2.2. Social Institutions and Fertility and Child Mortality Rates -- 2.3. Social Institutions and the Society: Governance -- 2.4. Data -- 2.5. Empirical estimation and Results -- 2.5.1. Empirical estimation -- 2.5.2. Results -- 2.6. Conclusion -- 2.7. Tables -- 3. Reexamining the link between gender and corruption -- 3.1. Introduction -- 3.2. Empirical Estimation and Results -- 3.2.1. Data -- 3.2.2. Empirical Estimation -- 3.2.3. Results -- 3.3. Conclusion -- 3.4. Tables -- 3.5. Figures -- II. Regional growth convergence in Colombia -- 4. Regional convergence in Colombia: Income indicators -- 4.1. Introduction -- 4.2. Motivation and Background -- 4.2.1. Economic Background -- 4.2.2. Data Issues Affecting Convergence Results in Colombia -- 4.3. The Solow Model and Its Estimation -- 4.3.1. The Solow Model -- 4.3.2. Absolute Beta-Convergence -- 4.3.3. Conditional Convergence -- 4.3.4. Parameter Heterogeneity: Are There Different Steady States? -- 4.3.5. Sigma-Convergence -- 4.4. Distributional Approach: Quah's Critique -- 4.5. Empirical Estimation and Results -- 4.5.1. Sigma-Convergence -- 4.5.2. Absolute Beta-Convergence -- 4.5.3. Conditional Beta-Convergence Using Control Variables -- 4.5.4. Beta-Convergence Using Time-Series Cross-Sectional Data -- 4.5.5. Kernel Density Estimators -- 4.6. Conclusions -- 4.7. Tables -- 4.8. Figures -- 5. Regional convergence in Colombia: Social indicators -- 5.1. Introduction -- 5.2. Motivation -- 5.3. Methods for Measuring Convergence -- 5.4. Data and Empirical Estimation -- 5.4.1. Data -- 5.4.2. Empirical estimation -- 5.5. Results -- 5.5.1. Literacy Rate -- 5.5.2. Infant Survival Rate -- 5.5.3. Life Expectancy at Birth -- 5.5.4. Nourishment -- 5.6. Conclusions -- 5.7. Tables -- 5.8. Figures -- Appendices -- Appendix to Essay 1.




OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance 2020


Book Description

Regions and Cities at a Glance 2020 provides a comprehensive assessment of how regions and cities across the OECD are progressing towards stronger, more sustainable and more resilient economies and societies. In the light of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the report analyses outcomes and drivers of social, economic and environmental resilience.







Regional Disparities, Growth, and Inclusiveness


Book Description

We discuss regional disparities in economic performance and living standards. We first set out some key facts, and provide a conceptual framework to help analyze whether such disparities are efficient, or instead reflect market and/or policy failures. We examine whether policy attempts to reduce regional disparities necessarily involve a trade-off between equity and efficiency. We then investigate whether policymakers should focus on boosting the economic performance of lagging regions—or, conversely, accept the presence of regional disparities, and instead assist households in lagging regions through transfer payments, investments in education, health, and other basic services, and by facilitating out-migration.







Latin American Economic Outlook 2019 Development in Transition


Book Description

The Latin American Economic Outlook 2019: Development in Transition (LEO 2019) presents a fresh analytical approach in the region. It assesses four development traps relating to productivity, social vulnerability, institutions and the environment.




Income Inequality


Book Description

Income inequality is rising. A quarter of a century ago, the average disposable income of the richest 10% in OECD countries was around seven times higher than that of the poorest 10%; today, it's around 9½ times higher. Why does this matter? Many fear this widening gap is hurting individuals, societies and even economies. This book explores income inequality across five main headings. It starts by explaining some key terms in the inequality debate. It then examines recent trends and explains why income inequality varies between countries. Next it looks at why income gaps are growing and, in particular, at the rise of the 1%. It then looks at the consequences, including research that suggests widening inequality could hurt economic growth. Finally, it examines policies for addressing inequality and making economies more inclusive.




The Global Findex Database 2017


Book Description

In 2011 the World Bank—with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—launched the Global Findex database, the world's most comprehensive data set on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. Drawing on survey data collected in collaboration with Gallup, Inc., the Global Findex database covers more than 140 economies around the world. The initial survey round was followed by a second one in 2014 and by a third in 2017. Compiled using nationally representative surveys of more than 150,000 adults age 15 and above in over 140 economies, The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution includes updated indicators on access to and use of formal and informal financial services. It has additional data on the use of financial technology (or fintech), including the use of mobile phones and the Internet to conduct financial transactions. The data reveal opportunities to expand access to financial services among people who do not have an account—the unbanked—as well as to promote greater use of digital financial services among those who do have an account. The Global Findex database has become a mainstay of global efforts to promote financial inclusion. In addition to being widely cited by scholars and development practitioners, Global Findex data are used to track progress toward the World Bank goal of Universal Financial Access by 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The database, the full text of the report, and the underlying country-level data for all figures—along with the questionnaire, the survey methodology, and other relevant materials—are available at www.worldbank.org/globalfindex.