A document on inequality by ECLAC was released at the G20 Social meeting

Within the framework of the G20 Social, the Director of the Social Development Division of ECLAC, Mr. Alberto Arenas de Mesa, with the support of the Director of the ECLAC Office in Brasilia, Ms. Camila Gramkow, presented the special report in Rio de Janeiro.

This document was prepared at the request of the Presidency of Brazil, which is leading the G20 in 2024, to address the first priority of the Development Working Group (DWG), i.e., combating inequalities. The report argues that the extreme inequality that characterizes Latin America and the Caribbean in multiple dimensions constitutes a trap that hinders progress towards sustainable development. Firstly, this inequality is unacceptable from a rights and social justice perspective, in addition to being counterproductive for economic growth and undermining social cohesion and the stability of social pacts. Secondly, it contributes to perpetuating two other structural traps of development in the region: the inability to achieve long-term growth and institutional and governance weaknesses. From an economic standpoint, inequality is inefficient for various reasons. Gaps in access to and quality of areas such as healthcare, education, basic services, and housing affect the capacity to develop skills and opportunities for labor and digital inclusion in an increasingly digital world. This has negative consequences in terms of economic productivity and individual income.