Entre la equidad distributiva y la legitimación política: el Plan Jefas y Jefes de Hogar Desocupados en Argentina

Abstract

Which is the probability of an individual for receiving benefi ts of a social policy program, given her economic vulnerability level? Has any relevance her “political voice” to enlarge this probability? The answers to these questions are some of the most important problems of public policy Agenda in Latin America, because of the rapid growth of poverty and inequality levels, during last two decades. Focusing the attention on the “targeting–universalism policies debate”, this paper will try to evaluate if, in a deep economic depression context (Argentina 2002), self–targeting cash transfer programs could serve to address main but different goals like poverty alleviation and political legitimacy. For that reason, this document analyze the outcomes of “Programa Jefas y Jefes de Hogar Desocupados”, the major program of poverty alleviation —in geographic and fi nancial terms— of the argentine social policy history.