The Latin American experience in pension system reform: coverage, fiscal issues and possible implications for China

In the past two decades, Latin American countries reformed their pension systems focusing mainly on addressing the weaknesses of the contributory schemes - fiscal unsustainability, low coverage levels and a high degree of segmentation- and barely addressed the non-contributory element. The reform experiences show however that the intended reforms did not manage to meet their objectives. Firstly, to this day, a large proportion of the population remains inadequately covered by the contributory system. Secondly, the fiscal performance and outcome of the reform was worse than originally planned. …

Inclusive social protection and demographic change: The implications of population ageing for social expenditure in the Caribbean

As population age structures change over the coming decades, the cost of providing public education, pensions and health care will change significantly. Falling child dependency ratios and increasing old-age dependency ratios will affect the number of people that receive education and pension benefits. The changing age profile of the population will also affect the demand for health services. This study analyses how public expenditure in these areas, in 10 Caribbean countries, is likely to evolve in response to these demographic changes. It describes how populations are ageing in the Caribbean…

Towards construction of comprehensive care systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: Elements for their implementation

El presente documento, elaborado por la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) y ONU Mujeres, ha sido concebido con la idea de servir de marco orientador para aquellas personas abocadas al desarrollo de Sistemas Nacionales Integrales de Cuidados como pilar de la protección social en los países de la región. Consideramos que dichos Sistemas deben ser diseñados desde la perspectiva de derechos humanos, con especial énfasis en la transversalización de la perspectiva de género para alcanzar modelos de cuidados corresponsables entre el Estado, el mercado, la comunidad y las fami…

Policy Brief: Moving towards equal access to technology for persons with disabilities in the Caribbean

In the Caribbean, there are approximately 1.3 million persons with a disability of some kind and some 250,000 persons with a significant disability. These numbers are projected to increase dramatically in the coming decades as the population of the subregion ages and given the global increase in chronic health conditions. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) face a range of physical, social, attitudinal and institutional barriers that prevent their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. As a result, they experience less favorable outcomes in health, education, …

Pension and income transfers for old age: Inter- and intra-generational distribution in comparative perspective

This document provides a world comparative analysis regarding the design and reform of pension systems in order to improve coverage, equality and sustainability. It looks at how pension systems, rules and financing affect coverage, sufficiency, and distribution as well as fiscal and intergenerational sustainability and equality.…

The case for financing: Caribbean resilience building in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only been sudden but has required significant re-adjustment on the part of world economies with far-reaching effects anticipated in the short to medium term. For vulnerable Caribbean economies already challenged by high debt service payments, external support is needed to fill the resource gap. The objective of this report is to assess the impact of the pandemic imposed restrictions across six critical sectors and to provide policy recommendations to ensure a swift recovery and make a case for greater external concessional financial support to the…

Confronting inequality: Social protection for families and early childhood through monetary transfers and care worldwide

This paper analyzes social protection policies for families and early childhood focusing on three main policies: family allowances and other types of monetary transfers for families with children, work leaves and early childhood education and care (ECEC) policies worldwide. It analyzes the design and reform of policies which protect families with children and early childhood comparing Latin America with other regions in the world. This analysis not only includes the basic description of these policies and its main features worldwide and across regions, but also pays attention to how these poli…

Ageing in the Caribbean and the human rights of older persons: Twin imperatives for action

This study addresses the ageing of the Caribbean population and the situation with respect to the human rights of older persons. It considers the implications for public policy of these ‘twin imperatives for action’. The first chapter describes and explains the changing age structure of the Caribbean population. Important features of the ageing dynamic, such as differential regional and national trends and the growing number of ‘older old’ persons, are also analysed. The study then describes the progress that has been made in advancing and clarifying the human rights of older persons in intern…

Caribbean development report: Exploring strategies for sustainable growth and development in Caribbean small island States

The Third Caribbean Development Roundtable (23-24 April 2014) was held under the theme “Exploring strategies for sustainable growth and development in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”. The Roundtable focused on challenges faced in stimulating growth and creating a capacity for resilience among the Caribbean SIDS. The conference examined the continuing challenge of igniting robust growth in Caribbean Small States, and at the same time, mitigating structural and cyclical risks and uncertainty. The presentations made at the Roundtable can be placed under six themes which comprise …

Pension reform in Europe in the 90's and lessons for Latin America

Abstract Reviewing and comparing the economic histories of Europe and Latin America we can observe that the universality of social security systems and the concurrent development of labor market institutions allowed Europe to reduce social inequality, while this has not been possible in Latin America. Pension systems in Latin America face some of the same problems that Europe's social security systems have faced before but with more difficult financing conditions. This document focuses on the lessons that Latin American countries may draw from the experience of Europe as well as on how re…

Presentation by honourable Gertrude Roberts, Minister for Community Development and Women's Affairs of Dominica

Macroeconomic success and social vulnerability: lessons for Latin America from the Celtic Tiger

Abstract This paper uses a political economy approach to examine the nature and social impact of Ireland's economic 'miracle', namely the period of high economic growth known as the 'Celtic Tiger', which lasted from 1995 until 2000. Its principal purpose is to offer a broad and multifaceted reading of this period of Irish development, paying particular attention to the links between macroeconomic success and social vulnerability, in order to draw policy lessons for Latin America. The examination of the Celtic Tiger is prefaced by a brief introduction to some of the sa…

Socio-demographic vulnerability: old and new risks for communities, households and individuals

Vulnerability is an emerging issue that has been raised repeatedly in sociological analyses at the dawn of the twenty-first century and in debates on public policies aimed at alleviating poverty, promoting upward social mobility and empowering citizens. If this issue has been so topical, it is because a variety of factors, some highly controversial and others difficult to measure accurately, have contributed to the phenomenon. They include: the increasingly unstable macroeconomic context; the frequency with which households lapse into and emerge from poverty, a trend seen even among tradi…

Prevention and insurance of conflict and terrorism: issues and evidence for Latin America

Latin America has a long history of political violence that include civil wars; guerrilla movements, military intervention, coup d'état, terrorism and others form of violent confrontation. As conflict and terrorism (C-T) produces losses of human lives and destroy assets and property there is an obvious need for prevention and insurance against this kind of risk. Insurance can be provided by both the state and by the market. In countries subject to long and violent conflict there is need for direct provision of insurance and compensation to the victims of conflict and their families. Howe…

Towards a society for all ages: building solidarity and equity across generations

The side event entitled «  Towards a society for all ages: building solidarity and equity across generations » is being organized by the Regional Commissions and the Permanent Mission of Chile during the Summit of the Future Action Days. The event will be held in-person on Saturday, 21 September 2024 from 09.30 to 11.00 a.m. EST in the Conference Room (40th floor) of the Permanent Mission of Chile, located at 885 2nd Avenue, New York.…

CEPAL y la Cooperación Alemana en el Quinto Foro de los Países de América Latina y el Caribe sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible

La Cooperación Alemana apoya la realización de cuatro eventos paralelos en el marco del Quinto Foro de los Países de América Latina y el Caribe sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible, que se efectuará entre el 7 y el 9 de marzo en San José de Costa Rica. 1. Casos ilustrativos del Gran Impulso para la Sostenibilidad (7 de marzo entre las 12:45-14:25 hrs Costa Rica, GMT-6) En el marco de este evento paralelo se presentarán tres casos de políticas industriales alineadas al concepto del Gran Impulso para la Sostenibilidad en América Latina y el Caribe, y el trabajo realizado en el ma…

Latin American Economic Outlook 2021: Working together for a better recovery

Esta edición de Perspectivas económicas de América Latina: Avanzando juntos hacia una mejor recuperación analiza y ofrece recomendaciones de política pública para una recuperación fuerte, inclusiva y sostenible en la región. El informe explora las acciones necesarias para mejorar los mecanismos de protección social y promover la inclusión social, fomentar la integración regional y fortalecer las estrategias industriales, y repensar el contrato social para restaurar la confianza y empoderar a los ciudadanos en todas las etapas del proceso de elaboración de políticas públicas. Además, resalta la…

Advancing the Decade of Action for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean

The Regional Coordination Mechanism for the Implementation of the Mauritius Strategy

Social health protection for the elderly in the English-speaking Caribbean

The present paper seeks to contribute to the growing discussion on social protection through an assessment of the status of social health protection systems for the elderly within the English-speaking Caribbean, and a review of the systems in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. It was prepared as a background document for the Expert Group Meeting on Social Health Protection for Vulnerable Populations which was held in Port of Spain on 31 October 2011. Against the backdrop of demographic changes underway in the Caribbean, the paper analyses the schemes and mechanisms that have been instituted by M…