The recent decline of inequality in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Peru *

摘要: Between 2000 and 2006, the Gini coefficient declined in 12 of 17 Latin American countries for which data are available. Why has inequality declined? Have changes been driven by market forces such as demand supply labor with different skills? Or have governments become more redistributive than they used to be, if so, why? This paper attempts answer these questions focusing on determinants four countries: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico Peru. The analysis suggests that decline is accounted two main factors: (i) a fall earnings gap between skilled low-skilled workers (through both quantity price effects); (ii) progressive government transfers (monetary in-kind transfers). Demographic factors, change proportion adults (and working adults) per household, equalizing but magnitude their contribution small comparison. In Peru, gap, turn, mainly result expansion basic education over last couple decades, reduced attainment made returns curve less steep. It also results from petering out unequalizing effect skill-biased technical 1990s associated opening up trade investment. seems be policies without windfall high commodity prices will hard sustain.