2001年-世界发展银行全球_Poverty_and_Income_Distribution_in_a_High_Growth_Economy___The_Case_of_Chile_1987-98_Volume_1_Main_Report_55页_4mb

Summary of Chile Poverty and Income Distribution in a High Growth Economy (1987-98)

Core Content

This report, Report No. 22037-CH, analyzes Chile's poverty and income distribution trends from 1987 to 1998, emphasizing the role of economic growth and social programs in reducing poverty. It is a follow-up to the 1997 World Bank study and includes both main findings and supporting background papers.

Main Report Overview

Poverty Reduction

• Chile has made significant progress in reducing poverty, with the poverty rate dropping from 40% in 1987 to 17% in 1998, a reduction of half.
• Extreme poverty (indigence) fell from 40% in 1987 to 4% in 1998.
• The reduction in poverty continued from 1994 to 1998, with the headcount, poverty deficit, and FGT indices all showing a consistent decline.
• The poverty rate decreased by 58% between 1987 and 1998, indicating a strong correlation between economic growth and poverty reduction.

Income Inequality

• Income inequality in Chile remains high by international standards.
• Between 1994 and 1998, inequality worsened, especially between the top and bottom deciles.
• However, the overall Gini coefficient in 1998 was similar to that of 1987, suggesting a stable distribution over the long term.
• Adjusting for social spending (such as education, health, and housing subsidies) shows a reduction in inequality, with the Gini coefficient falling from 0.56 to 0.50 and the income ratio between the richest and poorest quintiles decreasing from 20 to 11.

Social Expenditures and Targeting

• Social programs have had a significant impact on reducing income inequality, with education being the main contributor (60% of total transfers), followed by health (26%), monetary transfers (11%), and housing (6.5%).
• The ficha CAS (proxy means test) system has been effective in targeting social programs, though coverage among the poor is not universal.
• Social programs such as family allowances, pensions, and housing subsidies help reduce the Gini coefficient, but benefits often reach non-poor households.

Social Indicators

• Chile has made considerable improvements in key social indicators, including infant mortality, life expectancy, and educational coverage.
• The percentage of households with educational deficits fell from 13% in 1990 to 8% in 1998, largely due to increased government spending on education.
• The housing deficit also decreased, with 43% of households in 1990 falling below standards, compared to 27% in 1998. The largest gains were in access to electricity, while sanitation improvements were minimal.

Unemployment and Special Programs

• Unemployment is a severe issue for young and poor workers, with 28% of 18-24 year olds unemployed in 1998.
• High labor costs, particularly mandatory severance payments, and relatively high minimum wages contribute to unemployment, especially among younger and less skilled workers.
• Job training programs in Chile are relatively effective, due to their close ties with employers, but they may not reach the poorest groups due to lack of information.

Indigenous People and Social Exclusion

• Indigenous people face chronic poverty, with a 56% higher likelihood of being in poverty and receiving half the income of non-indigenous people.
• They also have 2.2 years less schooling and have become increasingly urbanized, with 80% now living in urban areas.
• Despite government programs, tensions remain between indigenous groups and the government, partly due to weak indigenous organizations and lack of coordination.

Key Recommendations

• Further labor code reforms to reduce the high costs of hiring new workers, especially younger ones.
• Reform the unemployment insurance system to eliminate severance payments and rely more on individual accounts.
• Modify the rate of increase in minimum wages to avoid discouraging employment of younger and less experienced workers.
• Increase investment in basic infrastructure and housing, particularly in water and sanitation.
• Improve the targeting of social programs to better focus on the poor and reduce benefits to non-poor households.
• Address regional disparities in the allocation of social spending.
• Pay more attention to the poverty problems of indigenous communities.

Summary of Data and Methodology

• The study uses CASEN (Caracterización Socioeconomica Nacional) household survey data from 1987 to 1998.
• Three poverty lines are used: the indigence line, a lower-bound poverty line, and an upper-bound poverty line.
• The headcount index, poverty deficit index, and FGT index are used to measure poverty.
• Adjustments were made for regional price differences and non-response, ensuring the accuracy of poverty estimates.

Conclusion

Chile has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty through strong economic growth and well-targeted social programs. However, challenges remain, particularly in unemployment, social exclusion, and inequality. The report highlights the importance of social spending in mitigating inequality and improving welfare, but also points out the need for better targeting and policy reforms to address ongoing issues.