Improved social policies and increased investment in education have been substantial factors. But the decline in the pay differential between skilled and unskilled workers – what economists call the “skill premium” – has also played an important role.
20世纪90年代初以来，拉丁美洲是世界上唯一一个不平等程度下降的地区。社会政策的改善和教育投资的增加都是重要因素。但高技能和低技能工人薪酬差距——经济学家称之为“技能溢价”——的下降也起到了重要作用。对经济增长来说，这是好消息还是坏消息？答案取决于技能溢价下降的原因。