Analysis
Declining Inequality in Latin America in the 2000s
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- Written by Nora Lustif et al.
"…..Between 2000 and 2010, the Gini coefficient declined in 13 of 17 Latin American countries. The decline was statistically significant and robust to changes in the time interval, inequality measures, and data sources. In depth country studies for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico suggest two main phenomena underlie this trend: a fall in the premium to skilled labor and more progressive government transfers.
The fall in the premium to skills resulted from a combination of supply, demand, and institutional factors. Their relative importance depends on the country…”
Read this World Bank paper
The World Bank's new 'Doing Business' Report 2013: Unfounded claims about deregulation
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- Written by ITUC
For Richer, For Poorer
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- Written by The Economist
The Economist of October 13th 2012 has several articles on what seems to become the new priority on the international development agenda: inequality.
'….Growing inequality is one of the biggest social, economic and political challenges of our time. But it is not inevitable….'
However, do not think this leads to fully-fledged welfare states! If you want to know what the new agenda for 'new progressivism' means, please go and read the different contributions. They are highly interesting: http://econ.st/QNGakg
Brazil frustrated with European 'backtracking' on IMF Reform
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- Written by Carey L. Biron
(IPS) - In the aftermath of last week’s elections to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s executive board, Brazil and others are expressing frustration that a reforms process aimed at increasing the representation of developing countries is being stymied by European countries.
Read more: Brazil frustrated with European 'backtracking' on IMF Reform
World Economic Outlook admission of flaw creates controversy
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- Written by Bretton Woods Project
The launch of the IMF's autumn 2012 World Economic Outlook (WEO) report stimulated a controversy over economic forecasting during the annual meetings of the IMF by admitting that the Fund's models, used to dictate the terms of bailouts, were flawed.
Read more: World Economic Outlook admission of flaw creates controversy
Underwriting the Poor!
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- Written by De Schutter and Sepulveda
Social Protection for all
UN Special Rapporteur on food, Olivier De Schutter, and UN Special Rapporteur on poverty Magdalena Sepulveda, just published a report and a proposal to introduce a basic social protection for all.
They launched a joint briefing note, calling for the creation of a Global Fund for Social Protection (GFSP). In the briefing they state that 2 per cent of the global GDP would be enough to provide all the world’s poor with basic social protection against the risk of unemployment, illness, disability, crop failure and soaring food costs.
Who Decides about Global Food and Nutrition?
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- Written by Right to Food and Nutrition Watch
Human Rights are the best weapon to combat Hunger, according to this report
Cape Town Call to Action
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- Written by People's Health Assembly
Read the Call to Action of the People's Health Assembly in Cape Town, July 2012
World Bank edges away from neoliberalism
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- Written by Owen Tudor
This month’s annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in Tokyo will see renewed lobbying by global unions for decent work and against austerity. So the publication on Monday night of the World Bank’s flagship annual publication, the 2013 World Development Review, was a major event – and one that the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) was able, for once, to welcome.
World Bank 'has aided land grabs'
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- Written by Tom Bawden
The World Bank has been accused of facilitating land grabs in some of the world's poorest countries after a raft of formal complaints from communities affected by projects it has financed.
