2002年-世界发展银行全球_Chiles_High_Growth_Economy___Poverty_and_Income_Distribution_1987-1998_253页_16mb

Chile's High Growth Economy: Poverty and Income Distribution, 1987-1998

Core Content Overview

This report provides an analysis of Chile's poverty and income distribution trends from 1987 to 1998, emphasizing the role of economic growth and social policies in reducing poverty. It also discusses the impact of social spending on income inequality and highlights specific challenges, such as unemployment and the situation of indigenous communities.

Main Findings

Poverty Reduction

• Chile has made significant progress in reducing poverty, with the poverty rate dropping from 40% in 1987 to 17% in 1998.
• The reduction in poverty was observed across all levels of income, including the very extreme tail of the distribution.
• The incidence, depth, and severity of poverty continued to decline through 1998, with the headcount index falling from 12.7% in 1987 to 3.9% in 1998.
• The poverty deficit index also decreased significantly, from 4.1% in 1987 to 1.5% in 1998.
• The FGT (2) index, which is sensitive to extreme poverty, fell from 2.1% in 1987 to 0.9% in 1998.

Social Indicators and Services

• Chile has seen considerable improvements in key social indicators such as infant mortality, life expectancy, and educational and housing coverage.
• The percentage of households with educational deficits decreased from 13% in 1990 to 8% in 1998.
• The percentage of the population dropping out of primary and secondary education also dropped significantly.
• The percentage of households with at least one housing deficit decreased from 43% in 1990 to 27% in 1998.
• The largest gains in housing were in access to electricity, while the lowest were in sanitation.

Income Inequality

• Income inequality in Chile remains high by international standards.
• Between 1994 and 1998, inequality worsened, but the overall distribution remained relatively stable when compared to 1987.
• The Gini coefficient for income inequality decreased from 0.56 (unadjusted) to 0.50 (adjusted for social spending) in 1998.
• The ratio of the richest to the poorest quintile fell from 20 to 11.

Social Spending Impact

• Social spending significantly reduced income inequality, with education subsidies being the largest contributor (60% of total transfers), followed by health (26%), monetary transfers (11%), and housing (6.5%).
• The ficha CAS system, a proxy means test, has been effective in targeting social programs to the poor.
• However, coverage among the poor is not universal, and some benefits go to non-poor households.

Unemployment

• Unemployment is a severe issue, particularly for young and poor workers.
• Unemployment rates among the poorest were much higher, reaching 24% for men in the lowest quintile and 28% for those aged 18-24 in 1998.
• The labor code imposes high costs on hiring, which may discourage job creation for the young and unskilled.
• Minimum wage increases have had a more negative impact on younger and less skilled workers than on the overall population.

Indigenous People

• Indigenous people are more likely to be in poverty and receive less income and education than non-indigenous Chileans.
• They are 56% more likely to be in poverty and have 2.2 years less schooling.
• Over time, indigenous people have become increasingly urbanized, with 80% now living in urban areas.
• Despite government programs, indigenous communities still face challenges related to land and water rights, and there is a lack of coordination among indigenous groups.

Key Recommendations

• Further labor code reforms to reduce the high costs of hiring, especially for younger workers.
• Reform the unemployment insurance system to eliminate severance payments and rely more on public-private hybrid models.
• Adjust the rate of increase in minimum wages to avoid discouraging employment of younger and less experienced workers.
• Increase investment in basic infrastructure and housing in poor communities, particularly addressing water and sanitation shortfalls.
• Improve the targeting of social programs to better serve the poor and reduce benefits to non-poor households.
• Pay more attention to regional disparities in social spending.
• Address the specific poverty challenges of indigenous communities.

Methodology and Data

• The study uses household survey data from the CASEN (Caracterización Socioeconomica Nacional) for the years 1987 to 1998.
• It employs the same sampling methodology and survey questions as the 1997 World Bank study.
• Adjustments are made for non-response, missing income values, and under/over-reporting of income categories.
• The analysis includes three poverty lines: indigence line, poverty line L, and poverty line H, all expressed in 1998 Chilean pesos.
• Social indicators are used to complement income-based poverty measures, focusing on health, education, and housing.

Conclusion

Chile's success in reducing poverty is attributed to both macroeconomic policies and well-targeted social programs. Despite these achievements, challenges such as high unemployment, especially among the young, and social exclusion remain. The report emphasizes the importance of improving the targeting of social programs and addressing the specific needs of indigenous communities to further reduce poverty and inequality.