1. José Luis Machinea EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Presentation to the Second Committee New York, 22 October 2004
José Luis Machinea EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

2. LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: THE MOST UNEQUAL REGION
GINI COEFFICIENT,
(Per capita income concentration, by deciles)

3. THE LEVEL OF INEQUALITY WORSEN IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES DURING THE NINETIES
LATIN AMERICA (17 COUNTRIES): TRENDS IN GINI COEFFICIENTS, NATIONWIDE TOTALS,

4. INEQUALITY AS AN OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING THE M.D.G.s
Unequal distribution of income and particularly unequal access to assets results in:
- Higher poverty levels with the same level of per capita income
Less success in reducing poverty levels with the same growth rate
- Negative impact on economic growth
More governability problems

5. CRITICAL ISSUES
Tensions derived from inequalities in income and assets
Slow growth (2,6%)
Volatility of growth
Adverse structural patterns
Unequal free trade opportunities
High unemployment and informality
Deterioration of natural resources
Importance of the regional sphere and regional cooperation
Level and efficiency of social public expenditure

6. Latin America (18 countries): Level of social expenditure in
Throughout the 1990s, and even after the crisis that broke out in late 1997, the countries made a determined effort to increase the percentage of GDP allocated to social sectors
Latin America (18 countries): Level of social expenditure in
, and
Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of social expenditure figures.
a/ Simple average for 16 countries (does not include Bolivia or El Salvador).

7. Increase in per capita public social expenditure: between and , the regional average rose by 58%. Sharp differences across countries remained, however
Latin America (18 countries): Level of per capita social expenditure in
, and
(1997 dollars)
Source: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), on the basis of social expenditure figures.
a/ Simple average for 16 countries (does not include Bolivia or El Salvador).

8. REGIONAL AGENDA FOR DEVELOPMENT
To boost economic growth 
Improve the quality of international linkages
Increase the competitiveness and productivity of the production apparatus: productive policies
Institutional building and governance
Maintain and improve the macroeconomic situation (counter cyclical policies)
Recognition of heterogeneity
Need to focus efforts
Improve infrastructure and conservation of environment and natural resources
Social cohesion covenant (education, employment, social protection)

9. ORIENTATION OF INTERAGENCY REGIONAL REPORT
Present a comparative analysis of the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean (progress made, obstacles encountered and chances of achieving MDGs)
Emphasize existing inequalities (social, geographic, crosscutting gender and ethnic groups)
Propose a Latin American and Caribbean vision of development
Highlight the need to improve access to assets (capital, land, knowledge, technology)
Underscore the links among the MDGs and the synergies among them (double dividend approach)
Emphasis on the various components of Goal No. 8 (international assistance, indebtedness and international trade and financing)
Special focus on innovative means for financing
El documento pretende recoger los planteamientos y objetivos generales señalados y acordados en diversas cumbres y reuniones tanto mundiales como regionales.
La Declaración del Milenio recoge un conjunto muy básico de objetivos y metas con las cuales estuvieron dispuestos a comprometerse los 189 estados signatarios en la declaración del año 2000.
Del mismo modo, el documento debiera reflejar, en nuestra opinión, nuestras visiones compartidas acerca del desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe, y también el diagnóstico sobre los rezagos fundamentales en la región y que constituyen las principales trabas al cumplimiento de las metas en la región.

10. José Luis Machinea EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Presentation to the Second Committee New York, 22 October 2004
José Luis Machinea EXECUTIVE SECRETARY