MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine social programs praised by FAO and World Bank, says government

World bank said Argentina expenditure in social goals has helped to significantly lower extreme and moderate poverty

Argentina praised some of the “positive and favorable comments” by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank regarding the country’s social and economic agenda, regretting that “certain” media “downplay” such news.

 Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich at his daily message at the Casa Rosada presidential palace mentioned that FAO has lauded “the growth of Argentina’s economy during 2013 and the functioning of the Precios Cuidados program”, an agreement reached with private-sector retailers to control inflation, “because it makes food access easier to the population.”

Meanwhile, the World Bank, the minister added, said Argentina is among the countries that “has most contributed to the reduction of poverty in the continent, particularly in South America.”

According to the WB Argentina is the country which spends the highest percentage of GDP on 'social targets' and is directed to 40% of the population with lesser economic possibilities.

To that respect the bank mentions reductions in extreme and moderate poverty as well as improvements in the Ginni index, and even when Argentina is one of the countries with the highest tax pressure, it is also the country with the highest 'social expenditure' in the region.

Among the programs which sustain these achievements the bank mentioned the family allowance; child allowance; unemployed heads of family allowances; social inclusion for families and the national scholarships program.

Regarding health care the bank points out that over 66% spent benefits 40% of people with the lowest incomes. Likewise 89% of the Argentine population have access to reliable drinking water.

In the improvement of poverty levels (extreme and moderate) in the region Argentina is only second to Uruguay.