The Evolution of Opportunities for Children in Chile 1990-2006

Abstract

In this article we apply some recently developed methodologies (Paes de Barros et al, 2008) to measure the evolution of the inequality of opportunity in Chile in the 1990-2006 period. The opportunities are measured as intermediate outcomes for children such as access to preschool, access to sanitary infrastructure, nutritional status and timely completion of secondary education. The distribution of these varies with coverage rates and how they distribute according to population subgroups, grouped by circumstances. These circumstances are exogenous (to the children) factors that contribute to determining socioeconomic outcomes. The more unequal the distribution of outcomes due to differences in circumstances, the more unequal the distribution of opportunity in the country. The results show a reduction in the inequality of opportunity in the period analyzed. The gains are of two classes. First, there have been substantial increases in social service coverage leading to a general improvement in opportunities. Second, the gap in access probabilities among population subgroups have been reduced, making the playing field more balanced.