Latin America: Poverty, Radicalism, or Market Economy?

Despite the financial crisis of 2008 and the ongoing global economic downturn, many Latin American countries have been able to reduce poverty levels and improve income equality among their populations. At the heart of this growth are two economic models. The first encourages private business?combined with social assistance programs?and has worked in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia. The second model, fueled by high global commodity prices, takes a more statist approach, and is employed in countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Argentina.

How can poverty reduction in Latin America be accurately measured and how does it translate into the political landscape? Do the less-favored sectors of society benefit better from one economic model or the other?

The Center for Latin American Studies is grateful to the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation for its generous support of this lecture series.