Social protection in Chile: Between growth and redistribution

Gabriela Zapata-Román and Armando Barrientos

No wp-2026-23, WIDER Working Paper Series from World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER)

Abstract: Chile combines high income levels and strong human development outcomes with persistent inequality. This paper examines the country's social protection matrix, focusing on its institutional configuration, financial structure, and main outcomes. The analysis distinguishes three core components—mandated savings, occupational insurance, and social assistance—and explores their respective roles in redistribution, poverty reduction, and political sustainability. The results show a hybrid matrix shaped by successive policy regimes, with a marked bias toward old-age protection.

Keywords: Social protection; Redistribution; Public welfare; Saving; Insurance; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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