Suchergebnisse

Our symposium offers a variety of perspectives, such as on self-perpetuation of inequality in the international system, or on the consequences of inequality for economic growth or for social and political conflicts. This contribution discusses the determinants of domestic policy choices that affect inequality and the consequences of these policy choices. The empirical focus is on Latin American countries, which collectively are characterized by the highest regional levels of inequality in the world, but individually show considerable variation. Different analyses have emphasized different causes of income inequality and of the variation in inequality, such as historical structural roots in land distribution and natural-resource endowments, geography, ethnic divisions, the economic context, demographics, and state action or lack thereof. The role of the state has not received much systematic attention until rather recently, though, despite its essential role in the allocation of resources.

This contribution discusser the determinants of domestic policy choices that affect inequality and the consequences of these policy choices. The empirical focus is on Latin American countries, which collectively are characterized by the highest regional levels of inequality in the world, but individually show considerable variation. Different analyses have emphasized different causes of income inequality and of the variation in inequality, such as historical structural roots in land distribution and natural-resource endowments, geography, ethnic divisions, the economic context, demographics, and state action or lack thereof. The role of the state has not received much systematic attention until rather recently, though, despite its essential role in the allocation of resources. Adapted from the source document.

Huber responds to Mkandawire's views on what is needed to improve the relationship between social science & social policy in three comments that agree with but also elaborate on his arguments. (1) Today offers new opportunities to make the connections of the social science-social policy nexus more fruitful. (2) To realize the potential of social science to contribute to improving social policy, both social scientists & policymakers must pursue integrated views that bridge their perspectives on resolving the problems at hand. (3) To advance social policies better informed by social science, more international collaboration is needed. Huber looks at specific cases to illustrate the validity of these arguments. References. S. Stanton

A comment on Adrian Leftwich's, "A Contradiction in the Politics of Economics" (2002) agrees that formal democracy does not always lead to political & social equality. However, an expansion of his argument suggests that the survival of democracy may actually require a lack of attempts to advance popular participation & economic redistribution. Although the same forces usually advance both formal democracy & participatory/social democracy, other variables may favor formal democracy while undermining significant progress toward participation & redistribution. The strong preference for formally democratic regimes on the part of the US, as well as the imposition of their preferences by the International Monetary Fund & the World Bank, has seriously hampered any possibility of political choice (& hence democratic political participation) on the part of developing countries faced with financial crises. J. Lindroth