“Beyond Taxation: Latin American States, Rich Families, and Reproduction”

HEREDIA MARIANA

Colonia

Encuentro; Wealth and the Family; 2022

Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies

By introducing both theoretical and methodological innovations to the discussion, Thomas Piketty has brought the question of capital back into the spotlight in the study of inequalities. Although his team has conducted case studies in different countries, they tend to offer blanket conclusions on the Western hemisphere with little distinction between countries. Naturally, Latin America is home to individuals (mostly men) and families with hefty fortunes. However, the region’s wealthy are statistically insignificant compared to the numbers of the rich in the United States, Asia, and Europe. When capital is not only qualified but quantified, it becomes evident that Latin America’s economic elites have indeed changed over time; they do not necessarily control the country’s main activities or the large companies where wealth is concentrated within the region. Does this mean that wealth is irrelevant when analyzing social inequalities in the region? It does not; however, this relationship must be analyzed in light of other indicators. This presentation explores some insights to approach the specificities of capital in Latin America.