Viviane Azevedo

INTERGENERATIONAL SOCIAL MOBILITY IN LATIN AMERICA: A REVIEW OF EXISTING EVIDENCE

This article reviews evidence on intergenerational social mobility in Latin America. Results indicate that mobility is low in the region, even when compared with the United States and United Kingdom, which rank low on social mobility. The evidence also suggests high levels of immobility at the income distribution’s lower and upper tails. While intergenerational education mobility have improved in recent decades, which may increase income mobility for younger cohorts, overall the region still presents lower intergenerational social mobility. Previous studies suggest that these results might be associated to social exclusion, low access to higher education, and labor market discrimination

How Much are We Willing to Pay to Send Poor Adolescents to School? Simulating Changes to Mexico's Oportunidades in Urban Areas

Although Mexicos Conditional Cash Transfer Program Oportunidades has increased overall school enrollment, many adolescents do not attend school, especially in urban areas. This paper simulates the effects of changes in program design using a simple parametric method based on a simultaneous probability model of school attendance and child labor. The paper also provides alternative non parametric simulation results by extending Todd and Wolpins (2006) method to incorporate changes in working hours when attending school. The results indicate that eliminating or reducing school subsidies for primary education and increasing transfer for older students is a cost-effective way to raise overall school enrollment in urban areas. Increasing school attendance of 16-year-olds to 80 percent or more, however, would require a quadrupling of scholarships. This suggests that complementary interventions are needed.

A Rising US

The report answers the question, how has Latin America and the Caribbeans market at the BOP changed during recent years? Using national household and expenditure surveys, the report presents data on BOP market size, socioeconomic characteristics, market segments, expenditure patterns, and demand-related factors. It also provides insights into what the regions BOP consumers want and identifies underserved markets and business opportunities. Finally, the report examines the supply side of BOP markets and analyzes what types of business models, distribution channels, and input sources have enabled enterprises to successfully engage the Latin American and the Caribbean BOP market.

750 Billion Market: Unlocking Opportunities at the Base of the Pyramid in Latin America and the Caribbean

Doing things yourself is not necessarily bad. Things tend to cost less when you do them yourself and are more tailored to your tastes and preferences. But sometimes doing things yourself can take too much time, can cost more than you expected if you make mistakes, and can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Unfortunately, many times you don’t have a choice. If you don’t have money to hire a professional to paint your house, you still can have that special new color on your bedroom wall if you are willing to spend your free Sunday painting it yourself. If you’re lucky, the hardware store will give you some painting tips, and the paint store will let you use your credit card so you can pay for your paint over time.

Doing It Yourself

Demand is usually defined as the “willingness and ability to purchase a commodity or service at a specific price and time” (Merriam-Webster.com). The concept of demand encompasses the desire to own a good, and the ability and willingness to pay for it at a given point in time. Demand for housing is no different. This chapter focuses on the forces driving housing demand in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Where will housing demand be the strongest in the future? Should poli-cymakers keep worrying about the continued strong growth of inega and capital cities? What factors influence households’ preferences for certain types of housing, and what factors constrain these households in making their housing choices?

Two Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms, and a Big Yard? Housing Demand in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean is the most urbanized developing region in the world. More than four out of five people in the region live in cities. This is a good thing, as urbanization has many benefits, not the least of which is that it helps reduce poverty. Cities attract poor people, which—as economist Edward Glaeser argues in his recent book, Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier (2011)—is a sign of urban strength, not weakness.