The Effect of the Covid-19 Epidemic on Inequality and Poverty: The Case of Latin America

Abstract

More than 54% of the Latin American workforce earn their living working in the informal sector. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on inequality and poverty in Latin America. “How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected the problem of inequality and poverty in Latin America?” has been determined as the research question. In this context, “What kind of successful public policies have been implemented during the Covid-19 outbreak?” and “In what way has the Covid-19 epidemic outbreak affected the trust of societies in their state?” sub-questions were answered. This study has been carried out through a literature review within the framework of new institutional theory in terms of organizational theories and the theory of punctuated equilibrium in terms of public policy analysis. In this direction, the study consists of the background of inequality and poverty in Latin America, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on inequality and poverty, and public policies in the Covid-19 pandemic period. In this study, it has been concluded that exiting the Covid-19 pandemic term with a public confidence to the state is directly related to decrease of inequality in the context of emergency social security measures. Finally, confidence increases as inequality decreases.

Keywords

• Latin America
• Inequality
• Poverty
• Covid-19

Covid-19 Salgınının Eşitsizlik ve Yoksulluğa Etkisi: Latin Amerika Örneği

Abstract

Latin Amerikalı iş gücünün %54’ten fazlası kayıt dışı sektörde çalışarak hayatını kazanmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Latin Amerika’da Covid-19 salgınının eşitsizlik ve yoksulluğa etkisini incelemektedir. Araştırma sorusu “Covid-19 salgını Latin Amerika’da eşitsizlik ve yoksulluk sorununu nasıl etkilemiştir?” olarak belirlenmiştir. Bu bağlamda “Covid-19 salgını sürecinde ne tür başarılı kamu politikaları uygulanmıştır?” ve “Covid-19 salgını süreci toplumların devletlerine güvenini hangi yönde etkilemiştir?” alt sorularına cevap verilmiştir. Bu çalışma, örgüt teorileri yönünden yeni kurumsal, kamu politikaları analizi bakımından ise sıçramalı evrim kuramları çerçevesinde yazın taraması üzerinden gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu doğrultuda çalışma, Latin Amerika’da eşitsizlik ve yoksulluğun arka planı, Covid-19 salgınının eşitsizlik ve yoksulluğa etkisi ve Covid-19 döneminde kamu politikaları başlıklarından oluşmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, Covid-19 sürecinden toplumun devlete güveni artmış bir şekilde çıkmanın eşitsizliğin acil sosyal güvenlik tedbirleriyle azaltılması ile doğrudan ilişkili olduğu kanaatine ulaşılmıştır. Sonuçta, eşitsizlik azaldıkça güven artmaktadır.

Keywords

• Latin Amerika
• eşitsizlik
• yoksulluk

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