Facts from social security

 Ten facts from social security.

One dollar a month and poverty in Brazil

The government is giving families an extra one dollar a month as a complement in the conditional cash transfer program Bolsa Familia. The family allowance is intended to reduce the number of families in extreme poverty. Read the note here. By the way the literature on poverty under one dollar a day has been summarized in the -very successful book- Poor Economics.

Increase the proportion of spending on means-tested programs in the U.S..

In the United States from 1972 to 2012, federal spending for means-tested programs and tax credits grew from 1 percent to almost 4 percent of GDP (see figure). These programs provide cash payments or assistance in obtaining health care, food, housing, or education to people with low incomes or few assets. Complete note here.

Source: Extracted from an article of the Congressional Budget Office. 

Conference on Poverty and Inequality

The Network on Poverty and Inequality (NIP) Chapter Mexico has opened a call for papers for a conference to be held in Mexico City. The information here.

Increases 50% middle class in LAC: World Bank

A new World Bank report "Economic Mobility and the Riseof the Latin American Middle Class" found that in Latin America and the Caribbean the middle class grew by 50% in the last decade, which is considered an historic achievement for the region . The report said that the middle class in the region grew to an estimated 152 million in 2009, compared to 103 million in 2003. More information here.

New social support program in Brazil

The president of Brazil announced the launch of a new social program in Brazil: "Tenderness Brazil (Brazil Carinhoso)". The program aims to overcome the problem of extrem poverty among families with children under 6 years old. Complements the CCT program "Bolsa Familia" offering childcare, additional health services and free medicines.
 

 

Nutritional security

The new Israeli Council for Nutritional Security....

In Argentina 30% of households do not have enough income to meet their needs

In three out of ten households in Argentina, the income received by its members are insufficient to meet their needs and maintain a certain quality of life. More information here.

The State of the World’s Children 2012: UNICEF

According to the UNICEF report "State of the World's Children 2012: Children in an urban world" almost half the world's children now live in urban areas, but many of them lack access to schools and health care and sanitation.

UN: February 20 World Day of Social Justice

On 20 February the UN celebrates the World Day of Social Justice in order to invite Member States to devote this special day to promote, at national level, specific activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Here the official link to the page of the UN: http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/

Two important news about pensions in Mexico

The first news is that the Presidency of the Republic announced that from 2012 the "70 y Más" program will expand its coverage to urban areas. The program will give 500 pesos a month to adults over 70 years living in marginalized urban areas. More information here.
The second news is that CONSAR introduced a new measure of net return. The change aims to provide workers with more tools to help them in their decision to choose the most profitable fund. More information here.

Jamaica and Eastern Caribbean: Longer life - Low quality

Life expectancy in Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean is increasing. However, this does not mean that longer life will have higher quality. A recent World Bank study warns that Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean are facing a health crisis with rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other non-communicable diseases, which significantly affect poor families because they pay for medical treatment out of their own pockets.

In Mexico, 28.5% of the EAP will live without a pension and in poverty

In Mexico, 28.5% of the economically active population (EAP) works in the informal sector, and without any type of coverage, they may (or already) arrived to the elderly destitute. More information here.

In LAC one in five people receive CCT

In Latin America and the Caribbean, one in five people receive conditional cash transfers (CCT). The transfers are intended for poor families with school-age children and pregnant women. The condition is that the children go to school or participate in health screenings, and nutrition. More information here.

US recession and its impact on the poor

In the United States recession has had different impacts on the poor. In rural areas, poverty remained unchanged last year, while in suburbs it reached historic levels. More information here.

Increased poverty in Mexico

On Friday 29 July the National Evaluation Council (Consejo Nacional de Población CONEVAL) released results of the 2010 poverty measure for each state and the country as a whole. Between 2008 and 2010 the country's population in poverty increased from 44.5% to 46.2%, representing an increase of 48.8 to 52.0 million people. For details of the results to click here.

Dilma Roussef announces Brasil sem Miséria Program

The president of Brazil announced a program to reduce poverty. The plan that incorporates old (such as Bolsa Familia) and new programs tries to improve the conditions of 16 million poor persons. See a note here and the oficial web page here.

Means-tested programs, social insurance and poverty in the United States

In this interesting article researchers from the NBER analyze the role that mean tested and social insurance programs have had on poverty rates. Authors conclude that the benefit system has reduced the percent poor in 2004 from 29 percent to 13.5 percent, although the effect is different for different population groups.

Mexicans work longer than any OECD country and have the highest proportion of poverty

This article from Milenio informs about the latest edition of the report Society at a Glance 2011 – OECD Social Indicators, in which it is established that Mexico is the OECD country where people work longer days, devoting 10 hours to paid and unpaid work. This graph shows the number of hours devoted to paid and unpaid work in different OECD countries. On the other hand, 1 out of every 5 Mexicans is poor whereas the average poverty proportion in OECD countries is 1 out of 10. Other indicators presented in the report are fertility rates, education and health spending, inequality, migration, tolerance, and trust.

10 Achievements of Social Security in Argentina… part VI

The sixth achievement of social security in Argentina is related to the Universal Child Allowance. The number of beneficiaries increased in over 200,000 children since 2009, year in which it was implemented. Also the Contributory Family Allowances System increased in 60% since 2003. To read more click here.