Related
Stories
 |
| Peru is among the countries registering the biggest drop in poverty but life is still hard for many |
Poverty in
Latin America is at its lowest level for 20 years, the UN's regional economic
body, Eclac, says.
From 1990
to 2010, the rate fell from 48.4% to 31.4%, which means 177 million people
currently live in poverty.
Eclac says
the main reason for the reduction in poverty and inequality is the rise in
household incomes.
But
progress is hindered by the big gaps between productive and better paid sectors
and work that is poorly paid and of low productivity, Eclac says.
"Poverty
and inequality continue to decline in the region, which is good news,
particularly in the midst of an international economic crisis," said
Alicia Barcena, Eclac's executive secretary.
"However,
this progress is threatened by the yawning gaps in the productive structure in
the region and by the labour markets which generate employment in
low-productivity sectors."
According
to Eclac's report, Social Panorama of Latin America 2011, the rate of extreme
poverty or indigence also fell from 22.6% to 12.3%.
The body
forecasts that by the end of the year, 174 million people will be classed as
living in poverty.
However, a
rise in food price is set to see the indigence rate increase slightly to 12.8%.
Caribbean
challenge
Among the
countries that saw the biggest drops in poverty are Peru, Ecuador, Argentina,
Uruguay and Colombia.
Poverty
increased only in Honduras and Mexico.
Eclac
welcome the increase in social spending by governments but said more was needed
to achieve a more balanced distribution of income.
Eclac's
report for the first time includes a chapter devoted to the Caribbean.
Among the
major risks it notes are high unemployment and HIV rates among young people.
The reports
notes that the HIV rate, equating to 1% of the total population, is the
second-highest in the world, surpassed only by sub-Saharan Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.