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Argentina´s Distributional Failure: The role of Integration and Public Policies

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  • Leonardo Gasparini

    (Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS) FCE - UNLP)

Abstract

This paper documents the income distribution changes experienced by Argentina during the last decades. Inequality substantially increased, and despite economic growth during some periods, poverty also went significantly up. Two types of episodes have shaped Argentina’s income distribution: deep macroeconomic crisis and periods of openness and integration. The sizeable raise in inequality in the 90s seems to be associated to reallocations against unskilled-labor intensive sectors, and especially to skilled-biased technological change within most sectors, both factors stimulated by the process of economic integration. The depth and speed of the reforms and the absence of public policies to ease the transition contributed to the particular severity of the income distribution changes in Argentina.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Gasparini, 2003. "Argentina´s Distributional Failure: The role of Integration and Public Policies," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0001, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    • Handle: RePEc:dls:wpaper:0001
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    File URL: http://cedlas.econo.unlp.edu.ar/archivos_upload/doc_cedlas1.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Matías Horenstein & Sergio Olivieri, 2004. "Polarización del Ingreso en la Argentina: Teoría y Aplicación de la Polarización Pura del Ingreso," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0015, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    2. Martín Tetaz, 2005. "Educación y Mercado de Trabajo," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0028, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    3. Heinrich, Carolyn J., 2007. "Demand and Supply-Side Determinants of Conditional Cash Transfer Program Effectiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 121-143, January.
    4. Demombynes, Gabriel & Metzler, Johannes, 2008. "Connecting the unobserved dots : a decomposition analysis of changes in earnings inequality in urban Argentina, 1980-2002," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4624, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    inequality; distribution; globalization; integration; wages; education; Argentina;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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