Chapter 2. Regional Human Development Report 2021

Objective measures of inequality reveal only part of the story.

Subjective measures of inequality, related to how people perceive it, are important because people’s perceptions of inequality shape their political attitudes and aspirations.

People in LAC are aware of how unequal the region currently is and think that this is unfair. They perceive unfairness, not only in the income distribution but also in access to public services and legal guarantees.

People are also frustrated about unfairness in processes—particularly about the outsized political influence of a few powerful groups.