Official statistics on contributions and retirement benefits show that coverage of social insuran... more Official statistics on contributions and retirement benefits show that coverage of social insurance is widening in Latin America. However, using maximum likelihood regression techniques, we found that certain segments of the working population are less likely than others to benefit from formal income protection in old age. These groups include married women, workers in rural households, and those employed in the agriculture, transportation, and construction industries. Access to social security systems in Latin American countries is also limited for workers in small firms and for those without a legal employment contract. Our results show that the growing concern among policymakers for workers in these sectors may be justified, especially in countries where the labor market is segmented and where jobs in covered sectors are rationed. The risk that governments will be faced with a Samaritan's dilemma is increased by the economic and institutional barriers between these workers and social insurance.
Official statistics on contributions and retirement benefits show that coverage of social insuran... more Official statistics on contributions and retirement benefits show that coverage of social insurance is widening in Latin America. However, using maximum likelihood regression techniques, we found that certain segments of the working population are less likely than others to benefit from formal income protection in old age. These groups include married women, workers in rural households, and those employed in the agriculture, transportation, and construction industries. Access to social security systems in Latin American countries is also limited for workers in small firms and for those without a legal employment contract. Our results show that the growing concern among policymakers for workers in these sectors may be justified, especially in countries where the labor market is segmented and where jobs in covered sectors are rationed. The risk that governments will be faced with a Samaritan's dilemma is increased by the economic and institutional barriers between these workers and social insurance.
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