Indigenous peoples make up over 40 % of the population of Latin America and in some countries with the largest percentage of indigenous population, they comprise the poorest sectors of the population. Paradoxically, despite significant changes in national poverty rates overall, the proportion of indigenous peoples living in poverty did not change much in most of these countries from the early 1990s to the initial years of the 21st century. Earlier studies examining the reasons for these outcomes, focused primarily on human development indicators, such as the limited access of indigenous peoples to quality education, health and other social services.

More recent work conducted by a group of economists at the World Bank follows up on these previous studies by examining the composition of income and income-generating activities of rural and urban indigenous households and communities in comparison to those of non-indigenous households and communities in the same above. This recent work also investigates some of the factors determining the participation of indigenous households and communities in income-generating activities with a particular emphasis upon the role of social networks and peer relations in determining income generation. In addition, it identifies possible key
features of policies and programs that could effectively increase the economic opportunities available to and the well being of indigenous peoples in Latin America.

This more recent World Bank study, “Indigenous Peoples and Economic Opportunities in Latin America” will form the basis of the conference to be held at Georgetown University on February 9, 2007. The conference, whose draft agenda is presented below, is being organized by the Student Working Group on Indigenous Peoples (SWGIP) of the National Resource Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University and will include the participation of economists from the World Bank, several consultants who have helped to prepare each of the indigenous economic opportunity country studies, and some representatives of indigenous economic organizations who have been referred to Georgetown University by the Inter-American Foundation (IAF),an independent foreign assistance agency of the United States government located in Arlington, Virginia.
 

• Agenda [, 188KB]
• Speakers Biographies [, 159KB]

Economic Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples in Latin America [, 370KB]
Authors: Harry Anthony Patrinos and Emmanuel Skoufias

Presentation [, 437KB]  
 

• Bolivia: Case Study  [, 200KB], Presentation [, 591KB] 
  Authors: Dante Contreras and co-authors: Diana Kruger and Daniela Zapata
• Ecuador: Case Study  [, 200KB], Presentation [, 1.1MB] 
  Authors: Christian Borja-Vega and Trine Lunde
• Guatemala: Case Study  [, 506KB], Presentation [, 292KB]  
  Authors: Maria Victoria Fazio
• Mexico: Case Study  [, 569KB], Presentation [, 452KB]  
  Authors: Christian Borja-Vega, Trine Lunde and Vicente García Moreno
• Peru: Case Study  [, 769KB], Presentation [, 919KB]  
  Authors: Javier Escobar and Carmen Ponce

There is very limited space for attendees, but if you are interested in coming to some of the sessions, please contact Vicente García Moreno.