Governance Quality, Fairness Perceptions, and Satisfaction with Democracy in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-145
Author(s):  
Gregory W. Saxton
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Satisfaction With Democracy ◽  
Fairness Judgments ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Cross National

ABSTRACTHow do individuals’ fairness judgments affect their political evaluations? This article argues that when citizens perceive high levels of distributive unfairness in society, they will be less satisfied with the way democracy functions. Yet good governance—that is, impartiality in the exercise of political authority—should mitigate the negative influence of perceived distributive unfairness on satisfaction. Using a cross-national analysis of 18 Latin American countries from 2011 to 2015, this study demonstrates that individuals are significantly less satisfied with democracy when they perceive their country’s income distribution as unfair. Yet good governance significantly offsets this negative relationship, even in a region with the highest level of inequality in the world. These findings imply that policymakers can bolster democratic satisfaction, even in places where citizens perceive the income distribution as fundamentally unfair, by committing to good governance and fair democratic procedures.

Democracy in Unequal Terms

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell J. Dalton
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Social Structure ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Educational Levels ◽  
Lower Status ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Cross National

This chapter summarizes the results of this study: changes in social structure and participation patterns are increasing social-status-based inequality in political participation. Those with higher educational levels, incomes, or occupation have greater political voice, while lower-status individuals are less politically involved. Moreover, the politically rich are getting richer, and the politically poor are getting poorer. The chapter then discusses the implications of these results. The chapter considers claims that participation erodes governance and some form of epistocracy (rule by the knowledgeable) is preferable. Cross-national analysis shows that well-governed democracies have high levels of citizen participation, including both conventional and contentious forms of action. In addition, the size of the SES participation gap is negatively related to good governance. The conclusion discusses ways that democracies might narrow the participation gap and give voice to those citizens who need government support.

Inward and Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Inequality: Evidence from a Group of Middle-Income Countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hsi Huang ◽  
Kai-Fang Teng ◽  
Pan-Long Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Transition Economies ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Outward Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Outward Fdi ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Latin American Countries

Using panel data of a group of 39 middle-income countries over 1981–2006, this paper examines how globalization in general and inward and outward FDI in particular affects inequality. Depending on geographical region and economic system, each component of globalization affects inequality in three groups of countries in different ways: open to inward FDI tends to affect income distribution adversely in transition economies and Latin American countries, but marginally improves income distribution in countries of the reference group. In contrast, open to outward FDI is positively associated with inequality in the reference group whereas negatively associated with that of the other two groups of countries. Crucially, improvement in human capital appears to be the single most reliable way to reduce inequality.

Friend or Foe? Testing the Influence of Populism on Democratic Quality in Latin America

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 872-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A Huber ◽  
Christian H Schimpf
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Democratic Quality ◽  
Qualitative Work ◽  
Latin American Countries

This article examines the influence of populism on democratic quality in Latin America. It draws on findings of qualitative work on this question as well as a theoretical framework by Cas Mudde and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser to test whether the assumptions and results of both are applicable in a comparative study. It is expected that populist actors have a negative impact on democratic quality when they are in government, but that they positively influence democratic quality when they are in opposition, where they can function as a corrective. Further, it is expected that these effects vary depending on the level of consolidation. A linear mixed-effects model and data from eighteen Latin American countries in the period 1995–2009 was used to evaluate the hypotheses. Generally, it was found that populist actors in opposition have a large positive influence on democratic quality and that populist actors in government have a negative influence.

Data Sources for Drug Utilization Research in Latin American countries – a cross‐national study: DASDUR‐LATAM Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciane C. Lopes ◽  
Maribel Salas ◽  
Claudia Garcia Serpa Osorio‐de‐Castro ◽  
Lisiane Freitas Leal ◽  
Svetlana V. Doubova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Utilization ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
National Study ◽  
Utilization Research ◽  
Drug Utilization Research ◽  
Cross National Study ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Cross National

Taxpayers' Attitudes towards Tax Evasion in Latin American Countries

2014 ◽  
pp. 73-104
Author(s):  
Müslüm Basılgan ◽  
Bryan Christiansen
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Tax Evasion ◽  
Social Life ◽  
The State ◽  
Tax Structure ◽  
Tax Morale ◽  
Satisfaction With Democracy ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Consumption Taxes ◽  
Latin American Countries

The weight of the state in economic and social life is very important even if it might differ from country to country. The state provides particular public services and needs to the various funding sources to provide these services. Taxes constitute the largest share of financial sources needed by the state to operate effectively. However, taxes are often not welcomed by taxpayers, creating the unwanted behavior of tax evasion. The purpose of this chapter is to reveal the tax structures of Latin American countries and to examine tax morale as an important determinant in shaping the attitudes of taxpayers in Latin America. This chapter shows the most important component of tax revenues in Latin American countries constitutes consumption taxes instead of income taxes, in contrast to developed regions such as those in OECD countries. It shows the tax structure in Latin American countries reflects the typical tax structure in developing countries. It is also observed that average tax morale is higher in South American countries, such as Venezuela, Paraguay, and Argentina, than in other areas, although it has a changing property over time. Moreover, the chapter shows tax morale is associated with financial indicators (satisfaction with income, the present economic situation, income distribution, and the functioning of the market economy), policy indicators (satisfaction with democracy, confidence with government), and demographic indicators (age, education).

Markets, Poverty Alleviation, and Income Distribution: An Assessment of Neoliberal Claims

1991 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 175-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Haggard
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Newly Industrialized Countries ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Policy Making Process ◽  
Market Driven ◽  
Latin American Countries

If individuals are such rational and maximizing agents, why has history demonstrated that government intervention in economics plays a consistently positive role in a developing country's economic performance? This article emphasizes the inevitable link of the political arena with progress of economic success, primarily in the developing world, thereby rejecting the neoclassical view of pure market-driven economics. The author highlights the market-oriented accomplishments of the Asian NICs (Newly Industrialized Countries) and some Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Turkey, pointing out time periods when authoritarian regimes acted as indisputable impetus for economic growth spurts in these countries. Because the poor are afflicted most heavily during transition periods, the author advocates that governments ensure the involvement of the poor not only in the market reforms but most importantly in the policy-making process. Governments must ensure proper allocation of national resources, income distribution, and commitment to poverty alleviation through direct intervention in the economy to stimulate growth and success. Under these circumstances, Haggard concludes, the poor will demonstrate a higher level of success in the emerging economies than many expect.

scholarly journals Evidence on equity, governance and financing after health care reform in Mexico: lessons for Latin American countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 162-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Arredondo ◽  
Emanuel Orozco ◽  
Raúl Aviles
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health System ◽  
Health Care Reform ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Resources Allocation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Evaluative Research ◽  
Latin American Countries

This article includes evidence on equity, governance and health financing outcomes of the Mexican health system. An evaluative research with a cross-sectional design was oriented towards the qualitative and quantitative analysis of financing, governance and equity indicators. Taking into account feasibility, as well as political and technical criteria, seven Mexican states were selected as study populations and an evaluative research was conducted during 2002-2010. The data collection techniques were based on in-depth interviews with key personnel (providers, users and community leaders), consensus technique and document analysis. The qualitative analysis was done with ATLAS TI and POLICY MAKER softwares. The Mexican health system reform has modified dependence at the central level; there is a new equity equation for resources allocation, community leaders and users of services reported the need to improve an effective accountability system at both municipal and state levels. Strategies for equity, governance and financing do not have adequate mechanisms to promote participation from all social actors. Improving this situation is a very important goal in the Mexican health democratization process, in the context of health care reform. Inequality on resources allocation in some regions and catastrophic expenditure for users is unequal in all states, producing more negative effects on states with high social marginalization. Special emphasis is placed on the analysis of the main strengths and weaknesses, as relevant evidences for other Latin American countries which are designing, implementing and evaluating reform strategies in order to achieve equity, good governance and a greater financial protection in health.

Local Litigation Requirements in International Investment Agreements: Their Characteristics and Potential in Times of Reform in Latin America

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-561
Author(s):  
Facundo Pérez Aznar
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Dispute Settlement ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
International Investment ◽  
International Investment Agreements ◽  
Domestic Courts ◽  
Investment Agreements ◽  
Latin American Countries

A number of international investment agreements (IIAs) set out a ‘local litigation requirement’, i.e. specify that recourse to investor-State arbitration becomes possible only after a certain period of time spent litigating in domestic courts. Numerous tribunals have dealt with this type of provision but they have followed different approaches as to its nature, function and scope, or as to whether non-compliance with it can be excused. This article focuses on the different aspects of local litigation requirement clauses in search of an interpretation that gives effectiveness to the provision, paying particular attention to the experience of Latin American countries and arbitral decisions discussing this topic, which in most cases involve countries from this region. It is argued that this precondition has an enormous potential to foster good governance and could serve to achieve a better coexistence between investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) and local tribunals.

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