[Poverty & inequality in Latin America: issues & challenges]

In Latin America, the 1980s were the "lost decade," a period of regression in all of the economic growth and social welfare indices. Double digit inflation, currency devaluation and recession in almost every Latin American economy contributed to growing poverty and increasing inequality. The 1990s have generally been a period of recovery and stabilization, yet in only two countries-Colombia and Uruguay-has the recovery improved the distribution of income.

This collection applies a multidisciplinary perspective to the new challenges in the distribution of wealth that, alone, seem to unify Latin America. The book is based on the papers presented at a workshop held at the University …