Uruguay, Venezuela have lowest inequality in Latin America
Uruguay, Venezuela have lowest inequality in Latin America
By Staff Writers, teleSUR
Wednesday, Apr 29, 2015
A book published Tuesday by the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) studying the relationship between inequality and taxation policies revealed that government intervention has succeeded in substantially reducing inequality.
The book, Inequality, Concentration of Income and Taxation of High Incomes in Latin America, shows despite remaining as the most unequal region in the world, the last decade marked a departure with an overall decrease in inequality.
During the period between 2002 and 2013, 15 of the 17 countries analyzed showed distributive improvements, reflected in the decline of the Gini coefficient, the report states. The Gini coefficient is a frequently used instrument used to measure inequality, with the closer the number to zero, the lesser the inequality.
The countries that showed the greatest decrease in inequality were Venezuela and Uruguay, countries whose governments have pursued aggressive policies of wealth redistribution. Bolivia, Nicaragua, Argentina, and Venezuela registered the largest annual drops in the Gini coefficient, which also suggests that the progressive wealth redistribution programs of these leftist governments have had a positive result.
More:
http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/Article_70194.shtml
(My emphasis.)