Economy and Politics Journal

The Effect of Corruption on Income Inequality: Adynamic Panel Data Analysis for Latin America

2025-05-16T16:48:31+00:00

The prevailing perspective holds that corruption has direct effects on income inequality; however, recent research has questioned this relationship. This study analyzes the relationship between corruption measured by the Corruption Perceptions Index and income inequality represented by the Gini Index in 18 Latin American countries between 1996 and 2022. Through a dynamic panel data model, new evidence was provided on a unidirectional causal relationship between corruption and inequality, consistent with previous studies. In this regard, corruption weakens tax systems, distorts public spending, and reduces resources for essential services, which, in turn, increases income inequality. To strengthen the analysis, control variables such as Rule of Law, Foreign Direct Investment, Natural Resource Rents, Primary Education Index, Unemployment, and Real GDP per capita were included as control variables.

Economic Transfers, Gender, and Differences in Informal Sector Participation in Mexico

2025-01-28T17:43:18+00:00

While the literature on the informal sector has explored the link between individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics and their participation in the informal sector, empirical studies focused on the interaction between external factors and the probability of participating in this sector are scarce. This study contributes to the literature by addressing the question: Is there a relationship between receiving economic transfers, gender, and the probability of participating in the informal sector in Mexico? Based on the analysis of microdata from the National Survey of Occupation and Employment, the results from the survey probit model provide evidence that for men, receiving economic support is linked to a decrease in the probability of participating in the informal sector, but receiving support is related to an increase in the probability of participating in this sector for women.

Fairness and Reasonableness Tariff Indicator for Electricity: Comparison of Data Between two Argentine Jurisdictions

2025-04-28T15:14:39+00:00

Electricity service tariffs are increasingly a matter of public debate as they are fixed costs for an ever-widening universe of end users. Tariff policy, however, is a matter of dispute since aspects related to economic balance, rational use of energy and availability of resources also come into play. This paper proposes an indicator, the IJRT, to assess this complex reality in an integrated manner, taking as a priority the theoretical approach of the right to energy, the inclusive and equitable energy transition and sustainability. Methodologically, the variables of the indicator are presented and then its results applied to two Argentine jurisdictions. The conclusions show that the IJRT has the potential to become a useful tool both for academic environments and for designing, planning and evaluating electricity tariff policy.

The Incidence of Exports on the Behavior of Poverty, Insecurity and Academic Quality in Mexico

2024-10-21T14:11:08+00:00

Mexico requires tools that allow it to achieve better conditions for its future and ensure that the benefits derived from structural reforms and economic liberalization strategies are reflected in a significant improvement in the living conditions of the population. This study analyzes the relationship between export growth and changes in poverty, insecurity, and academic quality at the state level during the last decade. With the support of 16 years of information and using regression models, each of the Mexican states were analyzed. Exports in Mexico could be part of the set of predictive indicators of the levels of poverty, insecurity and academic quality in each state; however, exports alone are not enough to solve the main intrinsic social problems of each one of them.

Financial Indicators Analysis of Segment I Credit Unions in Ecuador Using HJ-Biplot and Hierarchical Clustering

2025-01-21T17:29:51+00:00

This study examines the applicability of Hyman Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis (FIH) within Ecuador’s Tier I savings and credit cooperatives, focusing on their capital structure, operational efficiency, and asset quality. According to the FIH, periods of financial stability encourage riskier financial behavior, ultimately weakening capital buffers and increasing systemic fragility. Using HJ-Biplot analysis and cluster techniques, the study identifies three distinct stages of financial fragility among the cooperatives. The findings reveal that institutions with strong capital adequacy exhibit greater stability, while those with high levels of delinquency and non-performing assets are more likely to shift toward speculative or speculative financial strategies. Some cooperatives have adopted restructuring measures to mitigate risk, though their effectiveness may be limited in the face of prolonged crises. Overall, the results provide empirical support for the FIH, underscoring the influence of microeconomic decision-making on institutional financial stability.

Predictive Model of the Performance of Social Entrepreneurships in Zone 6: A Study in Four Strategic Sectors

2025-05-20T16:48:42+00:00

This research develops a predictive model to evaluate the performance of associative enterprises in Zone 6 of Ecuador, focusing on four strategic sectors: food, agriculture, textile, and cleaning sectors. The methodology integrates objective (business variables) and subjective (socio-organizational variables) approaches, selected from a literature review. A stratified probability sampling was applied to 20 representative associations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and linear regression. The model was trained on 80% of the data and validated on the remaining 20%. Although no significant differences were found between sectors, variables with high impact on performance were identified, such as intangible technological resources, infrastructure, networks, financial profitability and solid waste disposal. This model makes it possible to identify key areas to guide strategies for strengthening associative enterprises in the region.

Sociodemographic Factors of Microentrepreneurs and Entrepreneurial Characteristics in Peru for Access to Microfinance

2025-06-04T16:41:58+00:00

Microfinance is a tool to support microentrepreneurship in developing countries by providing access to credit for increased working capital and asset investment. In this sense, it is important to recognize some indicators of the entrepreneur and the business, the main objective is to analyze the sociodemographic factors and characteristics of the entrepreneurship that affect access to high amounts of credit for microentrepreneurs in Lima, 2023. To this end, 73 business owners were surveyed, and the relationship of the variables was determined using Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, and to observe the effect of the aforementioned factors on access to credit, a binary logistic regression was applied. The results indicate that men with wholesale businesses are more likely to access high amounts in relation to women entrepreneurs.

Public Policy on Territorial Planning and its Impact on the Development of the Manta-Ecuador, 2020

2025-05-26T14:06:37+00:00

This article analyzes the impact of public land-use policies on the development of the canton of Manta, Ecuador. It highlights territorial planning as a key tool to address challenges such as rapid urbanization, environmental sustainability, and natural resource management. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Manta Land-Use and Development Plan (PDOT) in addressing local needs. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining document analysis, the Theory of Change as an analytical framework, and census data from INEC (2001, 2010, and 2022) to examine indicators related to population, service access, and development. The results reveal significant progress in basic services coverage and education, although challenges remain in addressing informal urban planning and inadequate infrastructure. The study concludes that, despite partial achievements, the PDOT still requires greater strategic coherence, social participation, and sustained public investment to achieve sustainable territorial development.

Presentation

2025-07-25T20:03:17+00:00

Presentation