Pensiones y estratificación social en América Central y las Antillas Mayores

Abstract

The paper aims at applying the Political Economy of Aging approach to the study of the economic (in) security of the elderly in Central America and the Greater Antilles. This approach studies the role of the State in the reproduction, attenuation or accentuation of inequities that affect older people. Indicators from Political economy such as: kind of welfare regime, articulation of social policy based on assistance and social security, coverage, contributory and non-contributory pension systems were applied to a sample of nine countries of the area (Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Dominican Republic). The subregion presents a great heterogeneity of kinds of state and welfare regimes and its consequent effect on the economic security of the elderly.