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Social spending, taxes and income redistribution in Uruguay

Author

Listed:
  • Bucheli, Marisa
  • Lustig, Nora
  • Rossi, Maximo
  • Amabile, Florencia

Abstract

How much redistribution does Uruguay accomplish through social spending and taxes? How progressive are revenue collection and social spending? A standard fiscal incidence analysis shows that Uruguay achieves a nontrivial reduction in inequality and poverty when all taxes and transfers are combined. In comparison with five other countries in Latin America, it ranks first (poverty reduction) and second (inequality reduction), and first in terms of poverty reduction effectiveness and third in terms of overall (including transfers in-kind) inequality reduction effectiveness. Direct taxes are progressive and indirect taxes are regressive. Social spending on direct transfers, contributory pensions, education and health is quite progressive in absolute terms except for tertiary education, which is almost neutral in relative terms.

Suggested Citation

  • Bucheli, Marisa & Lustig, Nora & Rossi, Maximo & Amabile, Florencia, 2013. "Social spending, taxes and income redistribution in Uruguay," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6380, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:6380
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marisa Bucheli & Nora Lustig & Máximo Rossi & Florencia Amábile, 2014. "Social Spending, Taxes, and Income Redistribution in Uruguay," Public Finance Review, , vol. 42(3), pages 413-433, May.
    2. Nora Lustig & George Gray Molina & Sean Higgins & Miguel Jaramillo & Wilson Jimenez & Veronica Paz & Claudiney Pereira & Carola Pessino & John Scott & Ernesto Yanez, 2012. "The Impact of Taxes and Social Spending on Inequality and Poverty in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico and Peru: A Synthesis of Results," Working Papers 1216, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    3. Nora Lustig & Carola Pessino & John Scott, 2014. "The Impact of Taxes and Social Spending on Inequality and Poverty in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay: Introduction to the Special Issue," Public Finance Review, , vol. 42(3), pages 287-303, May.
    4. Bucheli, Marisa & Casacuberta, Carlos, 2000. "Asistencia escolar y participación en el mercado de trabajo de los adolecentes en Uruguay," El Trimestre Económico, Fondo de Cultura Económica, vol. 0(267), pages 395-420, julio-sep.
    5. Fernando Filgueira & Alvaro Fuentes & Carlos Filgueira, 2001. "Critical Choices at a Critical Age: Youth Emancipation Paths and School Attainment in Latin America," Research Department Publications 3129, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    6. Nora Lustig & Florencia Amábile & Marisa Bucheli & George Gray Molina & Sean Higgins & Miguel Jaramillo & Wilson Jiménez Pozo & Veronica Paz Arauco & Claudiney Pereira & Carola Pessino & Máximo Rossi , 2013. "The impact of taxes and social spending on inequality and poverty in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay: An overview," Working Papers 315, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
    7. John Scott, 2014. "Redistributive Impact and Efficiency of Mexico’s Fiscal System," Public Finance Review, , vol. 42(3), pages 368-390, May.
    8. Verónica Amarante & Marisa Bucheli & Cecilia Olivieri & Ivone Perazzo, 2011. "Distributive impacts of alternative tax structures. The case of Uruguay," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 0911, Department of Economics - dECON.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rural Poverty Reduction; Emerging Markets; Debt Markets; Services&Transfers to Poor; Economic Theory&Research;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • H2 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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