Economic reform to stimulate growth and reduce poverty: The Latin American experience

Poverty reduction, Hunger, Policy, Poverty, Poverty reducing growth, Latin America,

An economic analysis of Farmers Home Administration credit use in selected Middle Tennessee counties, 1958 and 1961

The major objective of the study was to determine the effect of supervised credit on the financial status of families living in Middle Tennessee who were active borrowers of Farmers Home Administration in 1958 and/or in 1961. Other objectives of the study were to determine changes experi-enced by borrowers during the period in; (1) gross and net family income; (2) gross and net farm income; (3) net farm worth; (4) use of non-farm inputs; (5) amount of funds borrowed; (6) debt repayment; and (7) changes in farm enterprises

Labor Market Regulations and Income Inequality: Evidence for a Panel of Countries

This paper presents evidence on the impact of labor regulations on income inequality using two recently published databases on labor institutions and outcomes (Rama and Artecona, 2002; Botero, Djankov, La Porta, López-de-Silanes and Shleifer, 2003) and different cross-section and panel data analysis techniques for a sample of 121 countries over the 1970-2000 period. When we consider the techniques most likely to be robust, we find that: (i) de jure regulations do not improve income distribution; (ii) relative compliance with existing regulations improves income distribution; (iii) de facto regulations are weakly associated with improving income inequality. This result partly reflects the fact that regulations are endogenous and, more interestingly, different regulations have quite distinct effects. In particular, we find that any redistributive effect of labor regulations may come from trade union membership, public employment and mandated benefits (proxied by maternity leave).

La regulación del trabajo autónomo económicamente dependiente en la Ley 20/2007: apuntes para un debate

No cabe duda de que la principal novedad que incluye la relativamente reciente Ley 20/2007 radica en la regulación, por primera vez en España, de la figura del trabajador autónomo económicamente dependiente [TRADE]. Esta figura, situada a medio camino entre el trabajo por cuenta propia y el trabajo dependiente, se nos presenta en la Ley con una configuración sumamente compleja que hace dudar –salvo en supuestos expresamente previstos por la norma-, de su posible aplicación en nuestro mercado de prestación de servicios. En el presente estudio se realiza una aproximación al concepto de TRADE y a las notas básicas que configuran su régimen jurídico, siendo conscientes de las insuficiencias de la norma y proponiendo aquellos cambios que se juzguen imprescindibles para asegurar su futura viabilidad como modalidad alternativa a las actuales formas de contratación contempladas en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico.There is not doubt that the principal innovation that includes the relatively recent Law 20/2007 takes root in the regulation, for the first time in Spain, of the figure of the economically dependent autonomous worker [TRADE]. This figure, placed on the halfway between the independent work and the dependent work, it appears to us in the Law with an extremely complex configuration which makes doubt - except in assumptions expressly services. In present study an approach is realized to the concept of TRADE and to the basic notes that form his juridical basis, being conscious of the insufficiencies of the norm and proposing those changes that are considered to be essential to assure his future viability as alternative form to the current forms of hiring contemplated in our juridical arranging.Il ne tient pas il doute que la nouveauté principale qui inclut la Loi relativement récente 20/2007 réside en régulation, pour la première fois en Espagne, de la figure du travailleur indépendant économiquement un employé [TRADE]. Cette figure, située à un chemin moyen entre le travail par un propre compte et le travail dépendant, on nous présente dans la Loi avec une configuration extrêmement complexe dont il fait douter - je sauve dans des suppositions expressément prévues par la norme-, de son application possible sur notre marché de prestation de services. Dans l'étude présente une approche est réalisée au concept de TRADE et aux notes basiques qui configurent son régime juridique, en étant conscients des insuffisances de la norme et en proposant ces changements qui sont jugés indispensables pour assurer sa viabilité future comme une modalité alternative aux actuelles formes d'engagement contemplées dans notre mise en ordre juridique

La regulación del trabajo por cuenta propia o autónomo: el estado de la cuestión

This study provides a general overview of the development of self-employment based on the analysis of the shift from paid to self-employment and looks at the factors leading to its growth from a socio-economic viewpoint. The study will then assess the various means of providing freelance work, placing special emphasis on so-called subcontracted self-employed workers, who are gradually assuming an increasingly prominent role. Finally, and from the perspective of the social protection of this type of worker, the study will look at accidents at work and occupational illnesses in self-employment as well as the new regulations concerning coverage for temporary disability.Self-employment, subcontracted self-employed workers, social protection.

Nuevos acuerdos regionales de comercio en Latinoamérica y disposición a negociar: El caso de la agricultura

[EN] This article analyses past trade trends and agricultural protectionism in Latin American agriculture, by examining observed changes in Latin American agriculture and trade policies over the last 20 years that have led to what the authors call the«New Open Regionalism». It also discussed the conflicting interests and various trading positions taken up by Latin American countries in multilateral trade talks, as a result of the strong heterogeneity between net agricultural exporters and importers. The authors show that the repeated failure of the Doha round of trade talks opens the door for bilateral or sub-regional free trade agreements, concluding with the prediction that regional integration in Latin America will come about as a result of agreements between various sub-regional trade blocs. The weakness of internal demand makes the development of the region’s agri-food sector highly dependent on exports, the growth of which is one of the main economic drivers in these countries, particularly net exporters. In addressing the issue of the distribution of profits from trade liberalization, the authors propose a variety of schemes that have already proved their effectiveness in countries such as Mexico, Turkey, Brazil, Colombia, Nicaragua and Honduras.[ES] Este artículo analiza las tendencias del comercio agrario y el proteccionismo de la agricultura en Latinoamérica, examinando los cambios observados en la agricultura y la política comercial en los últimos 20 años, denominados por los autores como«nuevos acuerdos regionales de comercio». También se discuten el conflicto de intereses y las variadas posiciones comerciales desarrolladas por los distintos países de América Latina, como resultado de una fuerte heterogeneidad entre los exportadores y los importadores agrarios netos. Los autores muestran que los reiterados fallos de las negociaciones comerciales de la ronda Doha abrieron las puertas para acuerdos comerciales libres bilaterales o sub-regionales, concluyendo con la predicción de que la integración regional traerá como resultado un acuerdo entre varios bloques de comercio sub-regionales. La debilidad de la demanda interna hace que el desarrollo del sector agroalimentario dependa fuertemente de las exportaciones, especialmente de los exportadores netos. En la dirección de los resultados de la distribución de beneficios de los acuerdos de liberalización, los autores proponen una variedad de esquemas que han tenido su efectividad en países como México, Turquía, Brasil, Colombia, Nicaragua y Honduras.Valdés, A.; Foster, W. (2006). Latin America’s «New Open Regionalism» and WTO Negotiations: The Case of Agriculture. Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 6(12):15-46. doi:10.7201/earn.2006.12.02SWORD154661

Labor Market Regulations and Income Inequality: Evidence for a Panel of Countries

This paper presents evidence on the impact of labor regulations on income inequality using two recently published databases on labor institutions and outcomes (Rama and Artecona, 2002; Botero, Djankov, La Porta, López-de-Silanes and Shleifer, 2003) and different cross-section and panel data analysis techniques for a sample of 121 countries over the 1970-2000 period. When we consider the techniques most likely to be robust, we find that: (i) de jure regulations do not improve income distribution; (ii) relative compliance with existing regulations improves income distribution; (iii) de facto regulations are weakly associated with improving income inequality. This result partly reflects the fact that regulations are endogenous and, more interestingly, different regulations have quite distinct effects. In particular, we find that any redistributive effect of labor regulations may come from trade union membership, public employment and mandated benefits (proxied by maternity leave)