IV ISA Forum of Sociology (February 23-28, 2021)

240

Understanding Social Policy Transformations in Latin America during the 2000s. Part I

Abstract Submissions Closed

RC19 Sociology of Poverty, Social Welfare and Social Policy (host committee)

Language: English

Session Type: Oral

Over the 2000s Latin America experienced a relatively long period economic growth. Economic prosperity came with improvements in poverty rates, better labor market indicators, and a reduction of income inequality. Social policies also evolved over this period: Latin American countries expanded the social protection system and the state took a more active role leaving behind the drive towards privatization and state retrenchment of the previous decades. Countries reformed pension systems, extended access to non-contributory benefits, implemented healthcare plans for uncovered populations, and developed conditional cash transfer programs providing small amounts of cash to millions of vulnerable families. Some countries also moved forward to address gender inequalities and expanded childcare services to facilitate work-life reconciliation and promote child development. This panel aims to take stock of these social policy transformations and discuss their nature, determinants and outcomes. How deep were these changes and how enduring, transformative, to enhance social incorporation and reduce inequality? How have the roles of families, market and states been reshaped as a result? What have been the driving factors (political, economic, demographic) associated with these developments, and with the variable progress across countries and policy sectors? Does the recent experience confirm or challenge established explanations of the politics of social policy development? We particularly encourage papers with a comparative focus both across countries and policy sectors, as well as articles that advance the theoretical discussion with new empirical evidence, and/or make conceptual and methodological contributions to measure, characterize and explain recent transformations in Latin American social policy.