Introduction

In earlier editions of the Social Panorama of Latin America, taking into account the considerable redistributive effects of public resources allocated to social sectors, ECLAC highlighted three general goals for social spending in the region. First, to intensify efforts to increase that spending and consolidate its recovery, particularly in the poorest countries, where the priority attached to public social spending and the amount of that spending remain extremely low. Second, to stabilize its financing in order to avoid adverse effects resulting from cuts in the resources allocated to social investment during recessionary phases in the economic cycle. Third, to improve the targeting and the positive effects of public spending on social sectors, particularly population groups which are vulnerable or in situations of poverty, reallocating it to those components of social spending which have the greatest progressive impact in terms of income distribution.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Gender Equality

Reduced Inequalities

Sustainable Cities and Communities