The Outsiders? Changing Patterns of Exclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean. 2008 Report

The 2008 edition of the Economic and Social Progress Report addresses the changing patterns of social inclusion and exclusion, one of the most pressing concerns facing governments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Indeed, a large part of the intense debate over the economic and social policies needed to achieve sustainable and equitable growth revolves around the question of social inclusion. This report shows that achieving social inclusion demands not only that past injustices be remedied through resource transfers and affirmative action programs, but also - and more importantly - that the way in which decisions are made, resources are allocated, and policies are implemented be changed. Social exclusion is the most dangerous threat facing democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. In our region, democracy is the result of a courageous social struggle that committed the majority of the population under the banner of creating more modern, more prosperous, and more just societies. Indeed, over the past 25 years there have been significant advances toward the democratization of our political systems, the control of endemic inflation, and the integration of our economies into the global market. Progress has not been limited to politics and the economy: life expectancy, nutrition, schooling, and many other indicators of well-being have improved and continue to do so. However, poverty, inequality, and the lack of good jobs and opportunities to facilitate social mobility for the majority represent areas in which much remains to be done, and in which more than ever the societies of Latin America and the Caribbean demand results.