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Conditional cash transfer programmes and their impact on poverty reduction: Lessons from Mexico and El Salvador

  • 01/05/2008
  • GTZ

The uneven economic development undergone by Latin America throughout the last decades has had an impact on its political and social dynamics. Governments in the region have been looking for strategies to cope with the unstable economy and sharp inflation rates, trying to protect their most vulnerable population from the worst economic shocks. As a
response to the challenging conditions, diverse economic and social policy measures have been implemented, having as a core principle economic efficiency based on a human capital approach. At the forefront of these new strategies, conditional cash transfer programmes (CCTs) have been one of the main resources of Latin American countries to tackle poverty, foster social inclusion and overcome inequality.