The Challenge of Decimating Poverty in Latin America by 2010

It is probably too early to draw any defInite conclusions on the effect of structural adjustment in the distribution of income, and the evolution of poverty in Latin America. TIlls paper, however, represents an attempt to assess income distribution trends and the evolution of poverty in seven Latin American countries during the 1980's. The evidence presented here points at a correlation between processes of rapid change in the countries' trade regimes, and a tendency toward the concentration of income. At the same time, this article emphasizes how countries with a gradual process of trade reform have shown an improvement in their distribution of income.