Crafting Policies to End Poverty in Latin America
The Quiet Transformation

This book provides a theory and evidence explaining the initial decision of governments to adopt a conditional cash transfer program.

Ana Lorena De La O (Author)

9781107089488, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 March 2015

194 pages, 8 b/w illus. 20 tables
16 x 23.5 x 1.5 cm, 0.44 kg

'This book addresses one of the most significant transformations in the political economy of developing nations in recent years. De La O's comprehensive analysis of the adoption and consequences of conditional cash transfers in Latin America represents an important and innovative contribution to the theoretical and empirical literatures on social policy, redistribution, institutional design, and development. By highlighting the importance of domestic politics, moreover, this book provides an important contribution to a literature often dominated by international and macroeconomic perspectives. Crafting Policies to End Poverty in Latin America will be of great interest not only to scholars of Latin American politics, but also to students of development policy throughout the world.' Sarah M. Brooks, Ohio State University

This book provides a theory and evidence to explain the initial decision of governments to adopt a conditional cash transfer program (the most prominent type of anti-poverty program currently in operation in Latin America), and whether such programs are insulated from political manipulations or not. Ana Lorena De La O shows that whether presidents limit their own discretion or not has consequences for the survival of policies, their manipulation, and how effective they are in improving the lives of the poor. This book is the first of its kind to present evidence from all Latin American CCTs.

1. Introduction
2. The universe of cash transfer programs
3. The politics of fighting poverty
4. Explaining policy adoption and design
5. Explaining policy outcomes
6. Conditional cash transfers and clientelism
7. The electoral bonus of conditional cash transfers
8. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], International relations [JPS], Comparative politics [JPB], Poverty & unemployment [JFFA]