Showing papers by "Gary S. Fields published in 2015"
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on an important but relatively underemphasized approach to poverty reduction: helping the poor earn more in the labour market for the work they do, so that they can buy the goods and services they need to move up out of poverty.
Abstract: Various development objectives are worthy, but one objective merits special attention: reducing the scourge of absolute economic misery in the world. This study focuses on an important but relatively underemphasized approach to poverty reduction: helping the poor earn more in the labour market for the work they do, so that they can buy the goods and services they need to move up out of poverty. The core of the study is divided into three sections: defining the global poverty challenge and the world's employment problem, presenting policy options for improving employment outcomes for the poor, and suggesting ways of choosing which policy interventions are most promising for poverty reduction.
20 citations
TL;DR: This paper examined changes in individual earnings during positive and negative growth periods in three Latin American economies: Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela, and found that earnings mobility is most frequently convergent or neutral in all three countries.
Abstract: This paper examines changes in individual earnings during positive and negative growth periods in three Latin American economies: Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela. We ask two major questions. First, do panel income changes favor the income recipients who started at the top of the income distribution (“divergent mobility”) or those who started at the bottom (“convergent mobility”)? And second, are the groups that are found to gain the most when the economy is growing those that are found to lose the most when the economy is contracting (“symmetry of mobility”) or is the pattern asymmetric in the sense that the same groups do best both in times of economic growth and in times of economic decline? We find support for the divergent mobility hypothesis only in scattered years in the cases of Mexico and Venezuela and no support at all in the case of Argentina. Rather, earnings mobility is most frequently convergent or neutral in all three countries. As for the symmetry of mobility hypothesis, we find that it is rejected in nearly all cases; rather, those groups that gain the most when the economy is growing are also the ones that gain the most or lose the least when the economy is contracting. Furthermore, we discuss how the absence of divergence reconciles with rising inequality in the countries under study.
14 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In the great majority of Latin American countries in the 2000s, economic growth took place and brought about improvements in almost all labour market indicators and consequent reductions in poverty rates.
Abstract: In the great majority of Latin American countries in the 2000s, economic growth took place and brought about improvements in almost all labour market indicators and consequent reductions in poverty rates. Across countries, economic growth was not all that mattered; external factors were particularly important for changes in labour market conditions, while reductions in poverty were strongly related to improvements in earnings and employment indicators. Although the 2008 crisis affected some countries differently from others, nearly all labour market indicators were at least as high or higher by 2012 than immediately before the crisis in all countries but one.
13 citations
TL;DR: The Uruguayan story was one of declines in the early years of the 2000s in most indicators, followed by improvements in all of them as mentioned in this paper, and economic growth was negative in early years due to a severe economic crisis, positive and rapid thereafter except duri
Abstract: The Uruguayan story was one of declines in the early years of the 2000s in most indicators, followed by improvements in all of them. Economic growth was negative in the early years due to a severe economic crisis, positive and rapid thereafter except duri
12 citations
TL;DR: For example, Brazil experienced slow economic growth and substantial improvement in labour market indicators from 2001 to 2012 as discussed by the authors, and the unemployment rate decreased, the employment composition increased, and the labor market indicators improved.
Abstract: During the 2000s, Brazil experienced slow economic growth and a substantial improvement in labour market indicators. From 2001 to 2012, Brazil grew less than the Latin American average. However, the unemployment rate decreased, the employment composition
10 citations
Abstract: Between 2000 and 2013, Colombia experienced rapid economic growth. The country suffered a slowdown at the beginning of the period and during the international crisis of 2008, but during both slowdowns, the growth rate never turned negative. Most labour ma
9 citations
TL;DR: The economy suffered a mild recession during the international crisis of 2008, but returned to pre-recession GDP per capita level in 2010 as discussed by the authors, and most labour market indicators improved over the perio
Abstract: Ecuador experienced moderate economic growth during the 2000s. The economy suffered a mild recession during the international crisis of 2008, but returned to pre-recession GDP per capita level in 2010. Most labour market indicators improved over the perio
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that it is possible to have all four combinations (i.e., rising or falling inequality, divergent or convergent panel income changes, and under what conditions, for various measures of rising/falling inequality and different measures of divergent/convergent income changes) and each of the four possible combinations can arise.
Abstract: When economic growth (or economic decline) takes place, who benefits and who is hurt how much? The more traditional way of answering this question is to compare two or more comparable cross sections and gauge changing income inequality among countries or individuals. A newer way is to utilize data on a panel of countries or a panel of people and assess the pattern of panel income changes. How do these two approaches relate to one another? This paper shows, first, that it is possible to have all four combinations – rising or falling inequality and divergent or convergent panel income changes, and second, under what conditions, for various measures of rising/falling inequality and various measures of divergent/convergent income changes, each of the four possible combinations can arise.
8 citations
TL;DR: Panama's economic growth experienced a temporary increase in unemployment, a drop in the share of paid employees, and a rise in some poverty indicators, but all these effects were reversed by the end of the period studied as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Between 2000 and 2012, Panama boasted the strongest economic growth in Latin America. The growth experience was not uniform: the 2000.02 period was marked by slow or negative growth rates, after which growth was exceptionally rapid. Although the international economic crisis of 2008 slowed the growth process down, it rebounded in the years following the crisis. Labour market indicators have clearly improved. The economic crisis led to a temporary increase in unemployment, a drop in the share of paid employees, and a rise in some poverty indicators; all these effects were reversed by the end of the period studied.
7 citations
TL;DR: For example, during the 2000s Mexico grew less than the average for Latin America as discussed by the authors, and the country was severely hurt by the international commodity price crash of the 1990s.
Abstract: During the 2000s Mexico grew less than the average for Latin America. Labour market indicators exhibited mixed changes, with improvements over the period for some of them and deterioration for others. The country was severely hurt by the international cri
7 citations
TL;DR: In the 2000s, Costa Rica experienced moderate economic growth and a general improvement in labour market conditions, and from 2000 to 2012 Costa Rica grew at the Latin American average as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In the 2000s, Costa Rica experienced moderate economic growth and a general improvement in labour market conditions. From 2000 to 2012, Costa Rica grew at the Latin American average. Most labour market indicators improved during 2001–09 and 2010–12 (t
TL;DR: In this article, Cruces, Guillermo Antonio, et al. presented a paper on the evolution of economic models in the context of Argentina, which was published by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas and Tecnicas (CICTE).
Abstract: Fil: Cruces, Guillermo Antonio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Economicas. Departamento de Ciencias Economicas. Centro de Estudios Distributivos Laborales y Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina
TL;DR: Antonio et al. this article, Guillermo Antonio, et al., this article presented a paper on the evolution of economic models in the context of the Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas and Tecnicas.
Abstract: Fil: Cruces, Guillermo Antonio. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Economicas. Departamento de Ciencias Economicas. Centro de Estudios Distributivos Laborales y Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina
TL;DR: The Dominican Republic experienced above-average economic growth along with mixed results in labour market indicators during the 2000s and the most part of the decade from 2005 through 2012 as discussed by the authors, and the economy per capita stagnated through 2004 and grew rapidly from 2005 to 2012.
Abstract: During the 2000s, the Dominican Republic experienced above-average economic growth along with mixed results in labour market indicators. GDP per capita stagnated through 2004 and, for the most part, grew rapidly from 2005 through 2012. Comparing 2000 with
TL;DR: Venezuela experienced slow economic growth during the 2000s and experienced a recession in the early years of the period and during the international crisis of 2008, but most labour market indicators improved and moved along with the business cycle.
Abstract: Venezuela experienced slow economic growth during the 2000s. The economy suffered a recession in the early years of the period and during the international crisis of 2008, but most labour market indicators improved and moved along with the business cycle
TL;DR: The country underwent a recession during the international crisis of 2008, but returned to pre-recession output level in 2011 as discussed by the authors, but the country experienced slow economic growth for Latin American standards.
Abstract: During the 2000s, El Salvador experienced slow economic growth for Latin American standards. The country underwent a recession during the international crisis of 2008, but returned to pre-recession output level in 2011. Changes in labour market conditions
TL;DR: Argentina experienced a decline in the early years of the 2000s, from 2000 to 2002, in GDP and in most labour market indicators, followed by improvements in nearly all of them, tracing out a U-shaped pattern as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Argentina experienced a decline in the early years of the 2000s, from 2000 to 2002, in GDP and in most labour market indicators, followed by improvements in nearly all of them, tracing out a U-shaped pattern. The international crisis of 2008 impacted nega
TL;DR: The only labour market indicator that improved almost steadily over the period was the educational level of the employed population as mentioned in this paper, which was the only indicator that exhibited an erratic behaviour over time, but fell overall between 2001 and 2013.
Abstract: During the 2000s Paraguay experienced slow economic growth but improved all labour market indicators. The growth process was erratic. Paraguay underwent a macroeconomic crisis at the beginning of the period, a recession as a consequence of the international crisis of 2008, and a local crisis in 2012. Most labour market indicators improved between 2001 and 2013 following the erratic pattern of GDP. The only labour market indicator that improved almost steadily over the period was the educational level of the employed population. All poverty and inequality indicators exhibited an erratic behaviour over time, but fell overall between 2001 and 2013.
TL;DR: The only exception were the reduction in the unemployment rate and the improvements in the mix of employ as discussed by the authors. But these improvements were limited to a small percentage of the workforce. And they were not enough to solve the country's economic problems.
Abstract: During the 2000s Honduras grew less than the average Latin American country and labour market indicators moved, in general, in a worsening direction. The only exceptions were the reduction in the unemployment rate and the improvements in the mix of employ
TL;DR: Chile achieved rapid economic growth and improved most labour market indicators: the unemployment rate fell; the mix of employment by occupational position and sector improved; the educational level of the employed population, the percent
Abstract: During the 2000s Chile achieved rapid economic growth and improved most labour market indicators: the unemployment rate fell; the mix of employment by occupational position and sector improved; the educational level of the employed population, the percent
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compare two or more comparable cross-sections and gauge changing income inequality among countries or individuals, and assess the pattern of panel income changes, and show how these two approaches relate to one another.
Abstract: When economic growth (or economic decline) takes place, who benets and who is hurt how much? The more traditional way of answering this question is to compare two or more comparable cross sections and gauge changing income inequality among countries or individuals. A newer way is to utilize data on a panel of countries or a panel of people and assess the pattern of panel income changes. How do these two approaches relate to one another? This paper shows,
TL;DR: The authors reconcile changes in inequality with panel income changes over periods of economic growth and decline, and explore what factors account for the trends of short-run inequality and of inequality in individual households.
Abstract: We reconcile, both theoretically and empirically, changes in inequality with panel income changes over periods of economic growth and decline. We also explore what factors account for the trends of short-run inequality and of inequality in individual aver
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In the great majority of Latin American countries in the 2000s, economic growth took place and brought about improvements in almost all labour market indicators and consequent reductions in poverty rates as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In the great majority of Latin American countries in the 2000s, economic growth took place and brought about improvements in almost all labour market indicators and consequent reductions in poverty rates. Across countries, economic growth was not all that mattered; external factors were particularly important for changes in labour market conditions, while reductions in poverty were strongly related to improvements in earnings and employment indicators. Although the 2008 crisis affected some countries differently from others, nearly all labour market indicators were at least as high or higher by 2012 than immediately before the crisis in all countries but one.