Diagnóstico multidimensional sobre las desigualdades en Colombia

Abstract

According to ECLAC, inequality in Colombia was the highest in Latin America, even above Brazil in 2020. Although, from 2010 to 2017, there was a reduction in these indicators, as of 2017, there has been an increase of these that can be attributed to a lower labor market performance and the pandemic caused by COVID-19. In this way, this document seeks to explore and analyze inequalities in Colombia based on five aspects: i) income, ii) labor market, iii) consumption, iv) household goods, assets and services, and v) wealth. Using information from different surveys in Colombia, the aim is to estimate inequality in these five dimensions and comparing by gender, ethnic groups, geographic location, among others. Thus, the greatest inequalities are observed when analyzing land ownership and financial assets holding. In addition, inequality is greater in households headed by a woman and if they self-identify as indigenous. At the labor level, it is observed that the richest quintiles have higher employment rates and lower unemployment rates compared to the poorest quintiles while, according to access to public services, health and electricity are almost universal but the richest have greater access to the internet, water service, quality of housing and cleaning services. Finally, inequality also has a geographic component since the average income of Bogotá is higher compared to other departments such as Chocó, which is also reflected in higher levels of schooling, formal employment, access to public services, among others.