1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910781056203321

Titolo

Argentina : : income support policies toward the bicentennial

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C. : , : World Bank, , c2009

ISBN

1-282-29354-0

9786612293542

0-8213-8052-4

Descrizione fisica

xxiii, 88 pages : illustrations ; ; 26 cm

Collana

A World Bank country study, , 0253-2123

Disciplina

362.5/820982

Soggetti

Income maintenance programs - Argentina

Economic assistance, Domestic - Argentina

Social security - Argentina

Argentina Economic policy

Argentina Social policy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Income transfer programs and social protection -- Income support policies in Argentina : origins and development  -- Opinions and preferences toward income support -- Income support and the role of the provinces -- Policy options and future challenges -- Reflections, challenges, and policy considerations.

Sommario/riassunto

Argentina approaches its bicentennial as an independent republic and has a window of opportunity in social protection policy. Following the most serious economic crisis in its history during 2001-02, the country mobilized an effort to provide income support to the population in need. Now, as growth has returned and social indicators have recovered to pre-crisis levels, there is an opening to move from emergency income support programs to a more comprehensive, long-term, and sustainable strategy for social protection. The emergency response was effective, as it helped the country to overcome the worst of the crisis. The centerpiece of the strategy, plan Jefes y Jefas, provided benefits to nearly two million households during a period when poverty affected more than half the population and unemployment reached record levels. The number of beneficiaries slowly declined beginning in 2003,



and was at nearly one-third of its maximum value by early 2008. This reduction was achieved by the reentry of beneficiaries into the formal labor market, the loss of eligibility, and the shift of beneficiaries to familias and seguro de capacitacion y empleo (Seguro), the successor programs to Jefes. Now that the crisis has passed, the policy debate has shifted toward the future of social protection over the longer term. The improvement in overall economic conditions since 2003 has resulted in a decline in unemployment, poverty, and inequality, and a recovery of formal employment and real salaries to pre-crisis levels. These positive trends have generated opportunities to consider longer-term and structural issues, including a debate over the future of whether this new type of noncontributory social policies, based on income transfers to households and individuals, should continue.--Publisher's description.