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Some 18 million Argentines, 40,9% of the population live in poverty, with prospects of worse times ahead

Thursday, October 1st 2020 - 09:30 UTC
Full article 17 comments
Indec data showed that the poverty rate rose to 40.9% in the first six months of 2020, a significant uptick from 35.5% in the second half of last year. Photo: AFP / JUAN MABROMATA
Indec data showed that the poverty rate rose to 40.9% in the first six months of 2020, a significant uptick from 35.5% in the second half of last year. Photo: AFP / JUAN MABROMATA
Salvia blamed the loss during the pandemic of 3.5 million jobs, mostly informal, for the rise, up from the 40.8% poverty rate recorded by UCA at the end of last year Salvia blamed the loss during the pandemic of 3.5 million jobs, mostly informal, for the rise, up from the 40.8% poverty rate recorded by UCA at the end of last year

Nearly half of Argentina’s population was living in poverty in the second quarter, a sharp increase from last year, as the country’s longstanding economic crisis deepened due to the coronavirus pandemic, researchers estimated on Wednesday.

The Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) estimated the poverty rate spiked to between 46% and 47% by the end of June following months of strict lockdowns to battle the spread of the virus.

Data by the government’s official statistics agency Indec, which reports poverty numbers every six months, showed on Wednesday that the poverty rate rose to 40.9% in the first six months of 2020, a significant uptick from 35.5% in the second half of last year. The 40,9% is equivalent to some 18 million people.

“There is greater general poverty. We are all a little poorer – we already were last year – and now with greater inequality,” said UCA researcher Agustín Salvia.

He blamed the loss during the pandemic of 3.5 million jobs, mostly informal, for the rise, which was up from the 40.8% poverty rate recorded by UCA at the end of last year. The poverty line is drawn at 14,718 pesos per month.

Argentina’s economy contracted a record 19.1% in the second quarter versus a year earlier as the pandemic crippled production and demand, and is on track for a 12% economic plunge in 2020, analysts say.

Small companies that produce for the domestic market were hit particularly hard as activity came to a halt and businesses closed across the county for months beginning in March, driving unemployment up to 13.1% in the second quarter.

Argentina recently struck a deal with its creditors to restructure about US$65 billion in foreign debt and has a bumpy fiscal road ahead, sapping the spending power for social programs that could have helped alleviate the effect of the pandemic on the poor.

“To get out of this poverty crisis requires a lot of imagination on the part of those in charge. The traditional programs of a few public works and a slight improvement in wages will not be enough,” said Andrés Asiain, a local economist.

Salvia said it seemed unlikely that poverty levels would improve in the immediate future, and predicted about 45% of Argentines would still be in poverty at the end of the year.

“To get back to the 35% (poverty rate) we had before the crisis, which was already a scandal, I do not see it possible this year or next year,” Salvia said.

Categories: Economy, Politics, Argentina.

Top Comments

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  • Johnny Colman

    Caro Think,
    Even if it's always poverty, the facts show that two cents of the British pocket are worth more than the Argentine cents in the same pocket.... Capisce ???

    Oct 01st, 2020 - 12:34 pm +3
  • Dirk Dikkler

    @“Think”, Nice to See you Deflect the Problems that exist in Your Own Country, while Whining & Whinging about the issues in the UK !
    Remember the Poor are getting Poorer in Argentina or is it that You don`t Care for your Fellow Argentinians !

    Oct 01st, 2020 - 04:15 pm +3
  • Dirk Dikkler

    I Think the estimate is Low more like 30 Million about 75% of the Population are Poor, it seems its the Only Growth Industry Argentina has.

    Oct 01st, 2020 - 08:29 am +2
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