Student Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
Spring 5-21-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
B.A. with honors
Honors Designation
yes
Program of Study
Political Science
Language
English
First Advisor
Marcus A. Johnson, Jr.
Second Advisor
Till Weber
Third Advisor
Claudia Halbac
Abstract
This paper attempts to establish a stronger linkage between neo-extractivism and social welfare states in contemporary Latin America using both a micro and macro perspective. By emphasizing the human capital aspect of the welfare state’s role in promoting equitable redistribution and correcting market failures, this paper attempts to evaluate the extent to which extractive industries contribute to human capital formation. Due to the sectors’ large influence on the state and weak capacity to create employment, I develop the concept of the “gilded welfare state,” defined by the inability of extractive industries to ensure equal opportunity and generate formal employment despite socioeconomic improvements. Using data from the ECLAC, World Bank, IMF, Varieties of Democracy, and Penn World Table databases, first differenced OLS models were conducted of Latin American countries to assess this claim in terms of natural resource rents and human capital expenditures. While neither analysis finds conclusive results, they do suggest that extractivism should still be considered as a key determinant when considering welfare state formation.
Recommended Citation
Ramcharan, Pabvitraa, "Neo-Extracting Gilded Welfare States: A Comparative Study of Extractivism and Latin American Welfare State Formation" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/bb_etds/111
Included in
Comparative Politics Commons, Economic Policy Commons, Political Economy Commons, Social Policy Commons, Social Welfare Commons