Latin-American Studies

Measures are used to monitor the millennium development goals progress of countries, especially with five years before the targeted completion (UN 2010). The discussion compares measures for three Latin American countries, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

The percentage of population living with less than a dollar per day is a measure of poverty level. In 1990, Peru had extremely low poverty levels relative to Brazil and Bolivia. In the latest data, Perus poverty levels almost quadrupled, Brazil significantly lowered poverty levels by more than half, and Bolivias poverty levels remained high but unchanging. Brazil appears to have best addressed the problem of poverty, by reducing the number of people living daily with less than a dollar by around two-thirds, despite having the largest population (CIA 2010a).

The percentage of net primary enrolment reflects access to basic education. In 1990, Peru had the highest percentage with almost all the school age population enrolled under primary education, Bolivia had high percentage, and Brazil had the lowest percentage albeit still at the 80 mark. In the latest data, Peru and Bolivia slightly experienced a decrease by less than 1 percentage point and Brazil was able to increase net primary enrolment by 8 percentage points. Access to primary education is high for all three Latin American countries, especially for Peru (CIA 2010b US Library of Congress 2010). The target of universal primary education remains.

The share of women in non-agricultural employment describes gender equality. In 1990, Peru had the lowest percentage relative to Brazil and Bolivia. In the latest year, all three countries increased percentages but Peru still had the lowest rate. Nevertheless, the three countries were able to increase women employment outside of agriculture.

Mortality in children under 5 per 1000 individuals reflects the state of child health. In 1990, Peru had a value in between Brazil as the lowest and Bolivia as the highest. In the latest data, all the countries were able to cut mortality rates by more than half with Peru attaining the lowest value closely followed by Brazil. The decrease in child mortality for Peru and Brazil has also exceeded the target of two thirds. The value for Bolivia remain relatively high (CIA 2010c) and it was not able to achieve the targeted two-thirds decrease.

The percentage of population with improved sanitation directly reflects health condition and indirectly relates to poverty and employment. In the data for 1990, more than half of the population in Peru had improved sanitation. This was less than the almost three-quarters of Brazils population with better sanitation but greater than the less than half of population with improved sanitation in Bolivia. In the latest data, Peru was able to raise the percentage to nearly three-quarters of the population. Brazil further increased the percentage. Peru and Brazil were able to secure improved sanitation for three-quarters of the population to meet the goal of halving the ratio of population without sanitation. Bolivia was unable to meet this goal by failing to secure sanitation for 1 in 2 people or 50 percent of the population.

The Gini Coefficient is one measure of equality. Lower than half mark means proximity to perfect equality and higher than half mark means proximity to perfect inequality (The Economist 2010). In 1990, Peru was below but nearly at the half mark, Brazil was above half, and Bolivia was below half. After nearly two decades, Peru was still at the same level, Brazil had a lower coefficient but still above half and Bolivia worsened with above half coefficient. There remain high levels of inequality in these countries.
 
The GDP per capita (PPP constant 2005 ) reflects productivity and the economic condition of countries. In 1990, Peru had values lower than Brazil but higher than Bolivia. In the latest data, the ranking remains the same albeit all countries increased the values with similar growth rates for Peru and Brazil and lower growth rates for Bolivia.

The indicators are important in evaluating development progress in Latin America, especially in capturing year-on-year changes and allowing inter-country comparison. However, there is need to consider more diverse and comprehensive indicators together with country context to have a clear and complete picture of the state of development of the countries.