When Do People Become Adults? The Uruguayan Case

Maximo Rossi, Universidad del Uruguay - Departamento de Economía (dECON)

Natalia Melgar, Universidad de La Amazonia

http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=maximo_rossi

Abstract

This paper explores the key experiences that Uruguayans consider relevant for becoming an adult in Uruguay. In particular, we assess the linkages between adulthood and income; labor market participation and marital status, among other transitions that have been found to be associated with the attainment of adulthood. With the aim of identifying attitudinal patterns, we use the 2008 International Social Survey Program in Uruguay and estimate ordered probit models to examine the importance individuals assign to a series of hypothetical transitions. We discover that gender, age, and educational level are viewed as critical determinants in the passage to adulthood. Moreover, we find that Uruguay may have a different constellation of beliefs pertaining to adult transitions than has been found in similar studies conducted in the United States.

Suggested Citation

Maximo Rossi and Natalia Melgar. "When Do People Become Adults? The Uruguayan Case" International Journal of Population Research / Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2012.Article ID 425325 (2012): 1-6.

Polarization and the Middle Class

Maximo Rossi, Universidad del Uruguay - Departamento de Economía (dECON)

Fernando Borraz, Universidad de la Republica
Nicolas Gonzalez, Universidad de Montevideo

http://works.bepress.com/maximo_rossi/63

Abstract

There is an increasing literature that discusses how to measure the middle class. Some approaches are based on an arbitrary deÖnition such as income quartiles or the poverty line. Recently, Foster and Wolfson developed a methodology which lacks of arbitrariness that enables us to compare the middle class of two di§erent income distributions. We apply this new tool jointly with a complementary method ñrelative distribution approach- to household income data in 1994-2004 and 2004-2010, to analyze the evolution of the middle class and polarization in Uruguay. During the Örst period, which is characterized by an increasing income inequality, we Önd that the middle class declined and income polarization increased. In the second one, where the Uruguayan economy experienced a recovery from the downturn su§ered in 2002, we Önd that the middle class rose and polarization decreased. However, this last result is attenuated when we do not consider the household income imputation because of the new health system implemented in 2008.

Suggested Citation

Maximo Rossi, Fernando Borraz, and Nicolas Gonzalez. 2011. "Polarization and the Middle Class" dECON_Working papers
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/maximo_rossi/63