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In 2020, as Latin American countries shuttered their economies, it became clear that effective lockdowns would require states to provide income support. In a region that has historically struggled to build systems of social protection, the effort to expand benefits was notable. Policies varied in scope and generosity, but in what seemed to signify a new era of state-building, Latin American democracies demonstrated a nearly uniform commitment to providing assistance to the poor. Why did some countries implement broader and more adequate programs than others and why did countries vary in their ability to sustain support over time? This Element argues that three factors explain cross-national and cross-temporal differences in policy effort: policy legacies, unified/divided government, and fiscal space. The study shows that in settings of crisis, the democratic politics of social policy expansion shift, with traditional factors like ideology and electoral competition playing a less central role.
List of contents
1. Explaining social protection during times of crisis; 2. Existing literature and theoretical expectations; 3. How did Latin American states respond to the crisis?; 4. Comparing the cash transfer policy response of seven countries: the effect of policy legacies, fiscal space, and divided government; 5. Policy making in times of crisis ¿ lessons from the COVID-19 experience; References.
Summary
This Element lists the factors that explain cross-national and cross-temporal differences in policy effort: policy legacies, unified/divided government, and fiscal space. In settings of crisis, the democratic politics of social policy expansion shift, with traditional factors like ideology and electoral competition playing a less central role.
Foreword
This Element measures the breadth and adequacy of ten Latin American countries' cash transfer responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
