Unequal Access to Public Services in South America
By: Jeremy Glass
Jun 22, 2022
23 June is the UN Public Service Day. This week’s graph reveals the extent to which public services are equally accessible by socio-economic position from 2011 to 2021 in South America.
V-Dem Institute’s Case for Democracy program finds that democracies generally provide better public services. Uruguay, one of the most democratic states in South America, accordingly tops the equal access to public services by socio-economic position ranking among South American states. Venezuela, which has significantly autocratized over this period, experienced the sharpest decline from an already very low rating. The state recently increased the fees for public services, making them less accessible to low-income households. The UN points out that public services are essential for development, and democracy is key to making them accessible to all.
