Population, territory and sustainable development
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of current trends, contexts and issues in the spheres of population, territory and sustainable development and examine their public policy implications. Three themes run through the report. The first two are laid out in the empirical chapters (III through X); the third is taken up in the closing chapter. Using the most recent data available (including censuses conducted in the 2010s), the first theme describes and tracks location and spatial mobility patterns for the population of Latin America, focusing on certain kinds of territory. The second explores the linkages between these patterns and sustainable development in different kinds of territory in Latin America and the Caribbean. The third offers considerations and policy proposals for fostering a consistent, synergistic relationship between population location and spatial mobility, on the one hand, and sustainable development, on the other, in the kinds of territory studied.
The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of current trends, contexts and issues in the spheres of population, territory and sustainable development and examine their public policy implications. Three themes run through the report. The first two are laid out in the empirical chapters (III through X); the third is taken up in the closing chapter. Using the most recent data available (including censuses conducted in the 2010s), the first theme describes and tracks location and spatial mobility patterns for the population of Latin America, focusing on certain kinds of territory. The second explores the linkages between these patterns and sustainable development in different kinds of territory in Latin America and the Caribbean. The third offers considerations and policy proposals for fostering a consistent, synergistic relationship between population location and spatial mobility, on the one hand, and sustainable development, on the other, in the kinds of territory studied.
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93<br />
Chapter VII<br />
REGIONAL INEQUALITIES WITHIN COUNTRIES:<br />
THE ROLE OF INTERNAL MIGRATION<br />
A. INTRODUCTION<br />
Levels of economic <strong>and</strong> social <strong>development</strong> vary within each country, not only at aggregate geographical<br />
scales —which reveal contrasts between rural <strong>and</strong> urban situations or between rich <strong>and</strong> poor regions—<br />
but also at more disaggregated scales between municipalities or neighbourhoods within the same<br />
metropolitan area.<br />
This chapter draws attention to the territorial inequality existing between major regions of<br />
countries or at least between major administrative divisions (MADs) in a country. The focus is on<br />
regional territorial inequality as opposed to other types of territorial inequality, such as between urban <strong>and</strong><br />
rural areas, municipalities of conurbations or districts within cities, which will be dealt with in other<br />
chapters. Two facets of this territorial inequality are shown for South America <strong>and</strong> Mexico in maps VII.1<br />
<strong>and</strong> VII.2.<br />
Differences in mortality rates reveal the most dramatic inequality, that is, inequality concerning<br />
the right to life. Map VII.1 shows countries where MADs with infant mortality rates of 10 per thous<strong>and</strong> or<br />
less exist alongside others where the rate is three times as high. Map VII.2, on the other h<strong>and</strong>, shows<br />
economic inequality, measured in this case in terms of per capita GDP. The contrast is clear, for example<br />
between MADs where per capita GDP is US$ 10,000 or more (for the most part metropolitan MADs or<br />
natural resource enclaves) <strong>and</strong> MADs, where it does not exceed US$ 2,500 (for the most part in the<br />
Andean area of the Plurinational State of Bolivia), Ecuador <strong>and</strong> Peru, as well as in north-west Argentina<br />
<strong>and</strong> north-east Brazil.<br />
The inequalities shown on maps VII.1 <strong>and</strong> VII.2 are undeniable but are still the subject of debate.<br />
Governments usually declare their intention of reducing them <strong>and</strong>, to this end, implement initiatives of<br />
different kinds. Politicians tend to champion the same cause, especially those in the least developed <strong>and</strong><br />
most disadvantaged regions, which suffer the frustration of being denied the conveniences <strong>and</strong> benefits<br />
enjoyed elsewhere in the country. This inequality is cause for concern because it tends to be selfperpetuating<br />
<strong>and</strong>, as pointed out in ECLAC (2010a), is an obstacle to <strong>sustainable</strong> <strong>development</strong>. Residents<br />
in disadvantaged territories have less access to public goods <strong>and</strong> services, <strong>and</strong> this narrows their<br />
opportunities <strong>and</strong> prevents them from exercising their rights; in this sense, the pursuit of greater territorial<br />
equality goes h<strong>and</strong> in h<strong>and</strong> with the pursuit of greater social equity. According to a significant number of<br />
researchers <strong>and</strong> experts, these inequalities lead to squ<strong>and</strong>ering, inefficiency <strong>and</strong> the un<strong>sustainable</strong> use of<br />
resources. A chapter on territorial inequalities was included in ECLAC (2010a) not just for social policy<br />
reasons (or in pursuit of greater social equity), but also for economic reasons (in pursuit of greater<br />
aggregate productivity).