Development and equality in Latin America

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the first decade of the new Millennium a wave of change caught Latin America as a reaction to Neoliberalism’s crisis. Economic growth returned to the Continent pushed by an enlarging domestic market and a heated world market of primary goods. At the end of this decade, some changes were visible in the majority of Latin-American countries: beside economic expansion and labour market enlargement there was social change, poverty reduction, income distribution improvement and political transformations. Some prohibited subjects as equity and political and economic rights of marginalized classes were introduced within the political agenda. Inequality decrease get the better of this movement and its achievement only occurred in countries where governments willingly adopted social policies of income transferences and wage improvement. Key words: Latin America; development; equality. Artigo recebido em 01 nov. 2011.