The logic of poverty relief : electoral strategies and social policy in Mexico / Alberto Díaz-Cayeros, Federico Estevez, Beatriz Magaloni.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Díaz Cayeros, Alberto, author.

Estevez, Federico, 1956- author.

Magaloni, Beatriz, author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in comparative politics.

Cambridge studies in comparative politics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Public welfare--Political aspects--Mexico.

Public welfare.

Poverty--Government policy--Mexico.

Poverty.

Human services--Political aspects--Mexico.

Human services.

Politics, Practical--Mexico.

Politics, Practical.

Public administration--Mexico.

Public administration.

Mexico--Politics and government.

Mexico.

Mexico--Social policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 236 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2016.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Poverty relief programs are shaped by politics. The particular design which social programs take is to a large extent determined by the existing institutional constrains and politicians' imperative to win elections. The Political Logic of Poverty Relief places elections and institutional design at the core of poverty alleviation. The authors develop a theory with applications to Mexico about how elections shape social programs aimed at aiding the poor. Would political parties possess incentives to target the poor with transfers aimed at poverty alleviation or would they instead give these to their supporters? Would politicians rely on the distribution of particularistic benefits rather than public goods? The authors assess the welfare effects of social programs in Mexico and whether voters reward politicians for targeted poverty alleviation programs. The book provides a new interpretation of the role of cash transfers and poverty relief assistance in the development of welfare state institutions.

Contents:

Poverty relief in Latin America

Poverty relief in Mexico: a geographic approach

Political machines and vote buying

Clientelism and the political manipulation of Pronasol

Improving communities: transfers and basic public services

Saving lives: social programs and infant mortality rates

Electoral pay-offs of antipoverty programs

Conclusion: the future of social protection.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 08 Mar 2016).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-316-54763-9

1-316-54730-2

1-316-54829-5

1-316-54796-5

1-316-54961-5

1-316-49271-0