The Lopsided Continent: Inequality in Latin America
Author(s)
Hoffman, Kelly; Centeno, Miguel Angel
Abstract
Latin America has the most unbalanced distribution of resources of all regions in the world. This review defines a set of common elements characterizing social structures on that continent, suggests some lines for analysis and theorizing, and supports the integration of regional studies into broader discussions of stratification. The authors review the situation on the continent as a whole, including a short discussion of the relationship between poverty and inequality, where they also address some concerns with data availability. The paper also includes a section devoted to each to class, gender, and race. The authors conclude by identifying three critical factors that explain Latin American inequality: its position within a global economic system, internal colonialism with maintenance of racial categories, and the underdevelopment of state structures.
