Evelyne Huber Boeken

Latin American societies have transformed significantly over the past two decades, shifting from state-intervened capitalist economies to more market-driven systems. While these changes led to some economic growth in the 1990s after a prolonged recession, they also intensified issues like poverty and inequality. The examination of various capitalist models reveals why some market economies achieve better growth and equity than others, providing insights for less successful nations. Contributors analyze different capitalist frameworks in Latin America, Northeast and Southeast Asia, and advanced industrial countries, focusing on the economic and social policies that enabled success. The investigation emphasizes policies aimed at stimulating growth, enhancing labor markets, and improving social equity. This volume innovatively links growth policies with labor market and social policy analysis, extending comparisons beyond Latin America to include equity-focused policies in North America and Western Europe. This comprehensive approach illustrates the critical role of policy design in shaping distributive outcomes across different development levels. Contributors include notable scholars and experts in the field, supported by the Joint Committee on Latin American Studies and the American Council of Learned Societies.

"Not all unequal countries are unequal in the same ways or to the same degree. In Challenging Inequality, Evelyne Huber and John D. Stephens analyze different patterns of increasing income inequality in post-industrial societies since the 1980s and assess the policies and social structures best able to mitigate against the worst forms and effects of market inequality. Combining statistical analysis of data from 22 countries with a comparative historical analysis of Germany, Spain, Sweden, and the United States, they identify the factors that are driving increases in inequality, as well as those that shape persistent marked differences between countries. Statistical analysis confirms generalizable patterns, while in-depth country studies help to further elucidate the processes at work"--