This collection offers a critical analytical perspective and fresh empirical data on recent market-orientated social policy reforms in Latin America. The six case studies presented examine labour, education, health and general social development programmes. A particular focus is placed on the ways in which market-enhancing reforms such as demand-based provision, social policy targeting and privatization respond to issues of equity, coverage and the quality of provision.

'...the empirical matter presented in all the essays is of undeniable value and richness, which makes the book particularly appealing to anybody interested in the main characteristics and pending issues of key social policies in the aforementioned countries over the last decades. It is also very well organised and would be useful for postgraduate students, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.' - Romina Miorelli, Political Studies Review

'This volume is an excellent piece of research that represents one of the most robust and serious criticisms of the neoliberal perspective of public policy.' - Natalia Ajenjo - Environment and Planning

Autorentext
ALAN ANGELL University Lecturer in Latin American Politics, Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford University MÓNICA BADIA-IBÁÑEZ Sociological Research Group, King's College, University of Cambridge ARMANDO BARRIENTOS Lecturer in Public Economics and Development, University of Manchester MARIA CRISTINA BAYON Researcher JASMINE GIDEON Researcher, School of Geography, University of Manchester GEORGE GRAY-MOLINA Doctoral Candidate, Nuffield College, Oxford AUGUSTIN ESCOBAR LATAPI CIESAS Occidente, Guadalajara, Mexico PETER LLOYD-SHERLOCK Lecturer in Social Development, University of East Anglia SUHAS D. PARANDEKAR Human Development Division, Latin American and Caribbean Region, World Bank BRYAN ROBERTS C.B. Smith Centennial Chair in US-Mexico Relations and Professor of Sociology, University of Texas GEORGINA ROJAS Sociology Candidate, University of Texas.

Inhalt
Notes on the Contributors Glossary List of Tables List of Figures INTRODUCTION Social Policy Reform and Market Governance in Latin America PART I: LABOUR MARKET AND SOCIAL POLICIES Human Resources and De-Centralization in Chile; L.Haagh Gender and Development Policy in Chile: The Aid Programme to Female Heads of Households; M.Badia-Ibáñez New Labour Market Challenges to Social Policies in Mexico; M.C.Bayon, B.Roberts & G.Rojas PART II: EDUCATION AND DECENTRALIZATION POLICIES Market Orientated Education Reforms and Issues of Inequality of Opportunity Among the Young Population in Chile; C.Helgø The Politics of Education Reforms in Chile: The Programe 900 Escuelas and the MECE-Basica; A.Angell Democratic Decentralization and People's Participation: An Examination of the EDUCO Programme in El Salvador; S.D.Parandekar PART III: HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS Health Insurance Reforms in Latin America: Cream Skimming, Equality and Cost Containment; A.Barrientos & P.Lloyd-Sherlock Decentralization, Participation and Inclusion? Reassessing Primary Health Care Delivery in Chile; J.Gideon SECTION IV: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICIES The Progresa Program and Social Change in Rural Mexico; A.E.Latapi Stakeholder Politics in Bolivia: Revisiting Second Generation Reforms; G.Gray-Molina Conclusion: New Approaches to Social Policy Reform in Latin America; C.Helgø