People of the Land and Poverty: Mapuche Inequality after Decades of Economic Reforms in Chile

David Ader, Pennsylvania State University

In 2010, Chile celebrated its 200th anniversary of independence. Despite the celebrations, Chile remains a nation with internal racial and economic struggles. The 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People clearly recognizes past injustices and emphasizes the right to freedom from discrimination in the pursuit of economic well-being. This research analyzes poverty and inequality of the Mapuche people within Chile. The Mapuche people are the largest minority group in Chile and in this research nationally representative survey data are used in descriptive as well as multivariate analyses to show the socio-demographic characteristics that are associated with higher risks of poverty. Results show that the Mapuche are significantly more likely to be poor. Human capital characteristics such as education, employment status as well as employment type, and spatial location are all significant factors associated with this higher poverty status. Policy implications are also discussed in context of economic development.