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Chasing the Polar Star? Partisanship and the Political Drivers of Pre-distribution and Redistribution in Latin America

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  • Oswaldo Mena Aguilar

Abstract

This article examines how partisanship and other political determinants influenced disposable and market income inequality in Latin America from 1990 to 2022. Using three separate sources of data, it finds that left partisanship is consistently associated with lower levels of both market and disposable income inequality (pre distribution and redistribution respectively) within one- and four-years. It also finds an independent and consistent negative effect of social mobilization. The paper makes several contributions. First, it advances the concept of pre distribution in the study of partisanship and inequality, extending scarce existing empirical analysis into and beyond the Pink Tide and commodity boom era. Second, it codes partisanship at the presidential level, rather than the more common measure of cumulative legislative power, offering an indicator more aligned to Latin America’s presidential systems. Third, it triangulates results across SEDLAC, SWIID, and LIS data, reinforcing confidence in the robustness of the core findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Oswaldo Mena Aguilar, 2025. "Chasing the Polar Star? Partisanship and the Political Drivers of Pre-distribution and Redistribution in Latin America," LIS Working papers 902, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:lis:liswps:902
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