indigenous peoples, poverty and human development in latin america harry anthony patrinos world bank...

Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Peoples, Poverty and Human Poverty and Human

Development in Latin Development in Latin AmericaAmerica

Harry Anthony PatrinosHarry Anthony Patrinos World Bank

February 9, 2007Georgetown University

Washington, DC

Harry Anthony Patrinos, World Bank 2

ContextContext

• UN Decade of Indigenous Peoples 1994-2004

• Indigenous gains in political influence– Upheavals: Mexico, Ecuador, Bolivia– Indigenous political representation

increasing• Changes in international & national policy


Good news: the education gap has Good news: the education gap has been narrowing steadilybeen narrowing steadily

70

80

90

100

1950 1960 1970 1980

Percent of population that had some schooling Peru by birth cohort, 1950-1980

(% of population with some schooling)

Indigenous

Non-indigenous

Lines are logarithmic estimates of trends


But indigenous people still have But indigenous people still have fewer years of education…fewer years of education…

Indigenous/ non-indigenous schooling gap, average years of school, 15 & older, latest year

Country Non-Indigenous Indigenous Schooling Gap in Years Bolivia 9.6 5.9 3.7 Ecuador 6.9 4.3 2.6 Guatemala 5.7 2.5 3.2 Mexico 7.9 4.6 3.3 Peru 8.7 6.4 2.3


… … and receive less added income for and receive less added income for each year of educationeach year of education

Average earnings gain for an additional year of schooling is less for indigenous people, latest available year (% )

Country Non-Indigenous Indigenous

Bolivia 9 6 Ecuador 8 7 Guatemala 13 12 Mexico 10 8 Peru 12 13


Evidence of labor market Evidence of labor market discrimination is still significantdiscrimination is still significant

Discrimination explains ¼ to ½ of labor earnings gap between indigenous & non-indigenous people, but may be

falling (% of earnings unexplained)

Country Early 1990s Latest Available Year Bolivia (urban only) 28 26 Ecuador 33 45 Guatemala 52 42 Mexico 48 42 Peru 50 58


Low tests scores for indigenous Low tests scores for indigenous children suggest low quality children suggest low quality

schoolingschooling

Standardized test scores for indigenous children in national math tests, grade 5

Country Non-

Indigenous Indigenous Gap

Bolivia 1997 (OREALC) 16 14 12% Guatemala 2000 (grade 3) 48 40 17% Mexico 2001 (EN) 463 430 7% Peru 1997 (OREALC) 14 10 27%


Some new and successful social Some new and successful social programs reach indigenous peoplesprograms reach indigenous peoples

68%61%

42%

23%

8%

33%

19%12%

4% 1%

1 2 3 4 5

Income Quintile, lowest to highest

Indigenous Non-indigenous

Mexico: portion of indigenous/non-indigenous peoples in income quintile that benefit from

Oportunidades conditional cash transfers


But social insurance systems But social insurance systems cover fewer indigenous peoplescover fewer indigenous peoples

45%

36%

61%65%

56%

69%

Total Rural Urban

Indigenous Non-indigenous

Percent of workers in firms with 10+ employees who contribute to social

security, Guatemala 2000


Evidence of poor health among Evidence of poor health among indigenous peoples is widespreadindigenous peoples is widespread

Stunting (height/ age) is about twice as widespread among indigenous children (% of children that are

stunted)

2933

14

59 58

44

Ecuador Guatemala Mexico

Non-indigenous Indigenous


Little progress in income poverty Little progress in income poverty reduction for indigenous peoplereduction for indigenous people

Poverty rates changed little for indigenous peoples; where poverty declined, progress was slower for indigenous peoples

(% change in headcount poverty rate between earliest and latest survey year)

Country Non-Indigenous Indigenous Bolivia, 1997-2002 - 8 Change of less than 0.1 Ecuador, 1994-2003 + 14 Change of less than 0.1 Guatemala, 1989-2000 - 25 -15 Mexico, 1992-2002 - 5 Change of less than 0.1 Peru, 1994-2000 + 3 Change of less than 0.1


Indigenous people also recover more Indigenous people also recover more slowly from economic crisisslowly from economic crisis

Indigenous poverty rates climbed less rapidly during crises, but also recovered more slowly

Percent change in headcount poverty rate Country Non-Indigenous Indigenous

Ecuador Crisis (1998-1999) Recovery (2000-2003)

+ 6 - 14

+ 5 - 5

Mexico Crisis (1994-1996) Recovery (1996-2000)

+ 27 - 25

+ 8 - 1


Four priority areas for actionFour priority areas for action

• More and better education– Decrease gap in years of schooling– Improve school quality (bilingual/bicultural

education)• Promote equal opportunities – “head start”

for indigenous– Maternal and child health projects

• Improve accountability in delivery of social services

• Improve data collection efforts– Include identification questions for indigenous


Moving beyond poverty & human Moving beyond poverty & human developmentdevelopment

• Link between indigenous & poverty established

• Poverty has not diminished over time

But need to move beyond human But need to move beyond human developmentdevelopment

• Need to examine distribution & returns to income generating assets (physical, human, public, social capital)


Objectives of new studyObjectives of new study

Economic Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples in Latin America

1. Examine composition of income and income-generating activities of indigenous

2. Investigate factors determining participation of indigenous in income-generating activities

3. Identify key features of policies & programs to increase economic opportunities

indigenous peoples, poverty and human development in latin america harry anthony patrinos world bank...

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