Universal social policies have the power to reduce inequality and create more cohesive societies. How can countries in the South deliver universalism? This book answers this question through a comparative analysis of Costa ...

Few countries have achieved social development, which requires simultaneously securing market and social incorporation (good jobs and access to social services). This book reviews Costa Rica's experience as one of the few ...

Aunque la desigualdad latinoamericana precede la liberalización económica, ésta claramente la acentuó: las nuevas formas de crecimiento han aumentado la polarización social; las reformas del Estado han reducido sus capacidades ...

Central America constitutes a fascinating case study of the challenges, opportunities and characteristics of the process of transformation in today’s global economy. Comprised of a politically diverse range of societies, ...

This paper provides a conceptual lens to address the complexity of policies involved in reconciling paid work and family responsibilities. Our typology classifies policies by how they intervene in the relation between paid ...

Much of the literature on political economy expects complementarities between (universal) welfare regimes and production regimes. This article draws from Costa Rica's showcase of human development and universalistic social ...

Con frecuencia la construcción del universalismo se asimila pragmáticamente a coberturas masivas –aunque los beneficios sean segmentados—o al modelo nórdico basado en impuestos generales y servicios generosos para todos ...

In recent years, attention to universal social policy has intensified in Latin America and other parts of the periphery. Definitions of universal social policy have traditionally varied between a minimalist approach ...