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Fiscal policy, income redistribution, and poverty reduction in Latin America

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  • Lustig, Nora
  • Martinez Pabon, Valentina
  • Pessino, Carola

Abstract

This paper uses standard fiscal incidence analysis to study how much income redistribution and poverty reduction are accomplished through the fiscal system in eighteen Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. We show there is considerable heterogeneity in the income inequality and poverty-reducing power of LAC fiscal systems. While all LAC fiscal systems reduce income inequality, fiscal systems in nine LAC countries are poverty-increasing, and this startling characteristic has not improved over time. When analyzing specific fiscal elements, we find that direct taxes, direct transfers, and in-kind transfers are all equalizing, and spending on education and health is often pro-poor. Moreover, contrary to expectations, indirect taxes and subsidies are more frequently equalizing than unequalizing.

Suggested Citation

  • Lustig, Nora & Martinez Pabon, Valentina & Pessino, Carola, 2023. "Fiscal policy, income redistribution, and poverty reduction in Latin America," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120683, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:120683
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fiscal policy; inequality; poverty; Latin America;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H22 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Incidence
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty

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