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How socially inclusive is Latin America?

3. The runner up

  • By Ezra Fieser Correspondent

Country: Chile
Overall score: 68.4

Consistently ranked as one of Latin America’s most business friendly and economically-competitive nations, Chile ranks highly across almost all indicators, leading the way in political and civil rights. The Southern Cone nation ranked near the top for women’s sense of personal empowerment – perhaps fueled by the fact that Chile elected its first female president, Michelle Bachelet, in 2006 – and for women’s access to quality housing.

Chile tracks Uruguay in most categories, including civil society participation, where both countries scored poorly. But the two countries diverge when it comes to gay and women’s rights, where Chile ranked near the bottom. The government only legalized divorce in 2004 and has continually tightened some of the world’s strictest abortion laws. The apparent contradiction in personal empowerment among women and women's rights is partially explained by the fact that Chile receives high marks for women in other categories, such as access to formal employment and housing.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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