MIAMI, USA – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) warns of the serious inequality that exists in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to other countries in the world with similar levels of development.
This is the conclusion set out in the 2021 Regional Human Development Report entitled “Trapped: High Inequality and Low Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean”, which addresses the serious situation in the region.
“The report explores three factors that are repeated and feed back into the vicious circle of high inequality and low growth: the concentration of power, violence in all its forms and social protection policies that do not work well,” they explain from the UNDP.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luis Felipe López Calva, stressed that this document intends to “call upon Latin Americans to understand the connection between all these factors.” .
“It highlights an entry point that can serve to free itself from low growth and high inequality: the implementation of universal systems of social protection that are redistributive, fiscally sustainable and more favorable to growth”, he pointed out in this regard.
Pandemic worsens in Latin America: World Bank calls for more vaccines for the region
Several international organizations have warned of the serious situation that is occurring in Latin America with a drastic increase in positive cases and deaths from coronavirus.
–
–
Power misused
The document, which seeks to analyze the causes of inequality in the region, shows that “the concentration of power in the hands of a few who defend their private interests is one of the factors that connect high inequality with low growth.”
“Through its political influence, power misused distorts public policies and weakens institutions,” he explains.
The violence
Violence in the region is also another point that is addressed in this report since its authors argue that this type of situation causes an increase in inequality, especially in the most vulnerable communities.
“Violence also limits growth through its impact on human capital (and productivity) and on public and private investment that is distorted, as well as spending on security and uncertainty about property rights. ”, They add.
Latin America on Biden’s list for COVID-19 vaccine donation
President Joe Biden promised that a donation of 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines would be allocated before the end of June.
–
–
The coronavirus
The outbreak of the coronavirus has especially affected the most vulnerable communities in the region since “the pandemic has exacerbated the effects of poverty,” according to Achim Steiner, UNDP administrator, during the presentation of the report that took place this Tuesday via telematics .
On this issue, Steiner indicated that “very low levels of poverty” are being seen in Latin America and the Caribbean, something that has not been registered since 2008, when a serious economic crisis loomed around the world.
On the other hand, the UNDP analyzes the technological issue in the southern region of the American continent since “more than 200 million people still do not have access to basic infrastructure because access is very poor or very expensive.”
“The effect has an impact on productivity, equality and the lack of education and earnings,” explained Steiner, noting that the economic consequences could represent losses of more than 1.3 trillion dollars, “equivalent to almost the entire economy of Mexico.”
However, the UNDP representative urged the governments of Latin American and Caribbean countries to “establish long-term solutions and draw up a plan that includes strategies to relocate resources and increase productivity.”
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channel YouTube and activate notifications; or, follow us on social networks: Facebook, Twitter e Instagram
– .
