Social Policies for Confronting Poverty in Latin America: a comparative analysis of Brazil and Argentina

Abstract Since the 1990s various Latin American countries have adopted public polices to reduce poverty and social exclusion, highlighted by the income transfer programs that compose the central core of government actions in various countries. The objective of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the evolution of poverty in Brazil and Argentina in the early 21st century, as well as the public policies of the time. The analysis focused on secondary data about the two themes found in both countries. It concludes that these programs contribute decisively to reducing the levels of poverty in the two countries, yet emphasizes that the eradication of poverty requires greater articulation between the various social policies and emphasizes the need for the construction and consolidation of a broad social protection system.