Safety Nets in Latin America: Targeting and Universalism?

Abstract

The shortcomings of welfare strategies in Latin America based primarily upon the extension of contributory entitlements have stimulated fresh discussions concerning targeting and universalism in the provision of safety nets of social protection. The paper’s main thrust deals with the possible articulation of conditional transfer policies as the means to advance basic universalism. Newly implemented means-tested programmes of conditional cash income transfers for poverty reduction in Latin America (programas de transferencias condicionadas) are policies under scrutiny throughout the paper.