What are the perceptions and realities of social exclusion in Latin America? This introductory chapter to a book from the Inter-American Development Bank summarises findings from five country studies. Inequality appears to arise largely from the absence of opportunities for large segments of the population. Exclusion of some groups on the basis of gender, ethnic origin, place of residence or social status may explain inequality of opportunity. The most obvious policy responses are not always the best options.
Social exclusion is defined as the denial of equal access to opportunities imposed by certain groups upon others. Latin Americans perceive social exclusion in different ways, and those perceptions are captured by the annual Latinobarometro public opinion survey. The 2000 survey asked respondents to name the groups most discriminated against in their countries. Most answers clustered around three types of people: blacks, Indians and the poor. In short, race and class are perceived as the basis for exclusion and discrimination in Latin America.
Survey responses indicated that Indians and blacks are disproportionately represented in the lower quintiles of socioeconomic status. Social divisions seem to be based on race in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Panama and Guatemala – countries where Indians or blacks represent a high percentage of the population. In Argentina and Uruguay, where racial makeup is much more homogenous, the poor are perceived as being the most discriminated against. Other findings include the following:
- In Bolivia, living in specific geographic areas within cities has a negative and significant effect on incomes. Also individuals living in segregated geographic areas and belonging to certain racial groups have lower incomes and education attainment, probably because of social exclusion.
- In Brazil, by means of differential pricing and quality of service, some sectors of the population are effectively excluded from obtaining adequate healthcare.
- In Costa Rica, Nicaraguans migrants have a lower socioeconomic status because of their legal status. Most Nicaraguans are likely to have entered the country illegally and are therefore are likely to receive different legal treatment.
- In El Salvador, people living in isolated areas are excluded from the mainstream economy and therefore have lower socioeconomic status and fewer employment opportunities.
- In Mexico, children who speak only indigenous languages fare much worse in school than similar indigenous children who differ only in terms of knowledge of Spanish.
There is no single approach to help address social exclusion in Latin America. The above country studies suggest a number of different interventions to help address issues of social exclusion.
- In Brazil, subsidising private healthcare would not benefit those excluded. Expanding public infrastructure might be the best way to ‘include’ excluded groups.
- Increasing the probability of legal residence may help to improve the living standards of Nicaraguans in Costa Rica. This can be accomplished by eliminating passport or other document requirements, or simply through an amnesty that changes the legal status of the Nicaraguan migrants.
- In El Salvador, building new roads and expanding public transportation and household services such as water and electricity may have a larger impact on the socioeconomic conditions of isolated individuals than standard poverty alleviation programmes, or even public health and education programmes.
- In Mexico, policy interventions such as expanding access to bilingual schools for indigenous monolingual children may have a strong positive effect on their ability to benefit from the public school system.
