À margem da subsistência: pobreza na America Latina

Abstract

The paper presents a survey of research on poverty in Latin America. A growing body of evidence suggests that the decline in real wages and the stagnation of employment during the past decade has amplified absolute poverty. Despite signs of progress in reducing infant mortality and illiteracy, the number of people who cannot afford sufficient food and shelter shows no indication of decline. Relatively high average incomes in the area in comparison with other developing regions point to inequality as the main root of the problem. Given the prolonged macroeconomic contraction in the region, growth - specialty inequitable growth - can no longer be looked to as the primary solution. National and international resources must be better targeted to the poor.