Equidad de Género en las Oportunidades Económicas en América Latina, 1990-2010

Abstract

This article explores the evolution of gender inequality in economic opportunities in 18 counties in Latin America from 1990 to 2010.  We examine the reduction in poverty and inequality and reaffirm that these are indeed significant economic achievements in Latin America and the Caribbean in this era. Notwithstanding, there is evidence that these benefits have not translated into greater gender quality in economic spheres. We evaluate changes in economic opportunities by gender using the data for employment, unemployment, informalization, wages and poverty, by country and region. Additionally, we examine how variations in these variables are related to different political regimes in place during the decade of the millennium. We find that reductions in gender gaps in employment rates, informalization and urban wages are counterbalanced by increases in gender inequalities in unemployment and poverty.  We also find that social policy has been more important in reducing household income inequality and poverty than policies oriented towards the labour market.