Social classes and inequality in contemporary Argentina (2011-2019)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the changes and continuities in the structure of socio-occupational classes for the period 2011-2019 in urban Argentina. To this end, the changes in the composition by sex and region are analyzed, while the evolution in the distribution of income between classes over the period is studied. Based on the micro-data of the INDEC Permanent Household Survey (EPH), the Economically Active Population (PEA) is considered as the unit of analysis, and the population is classified based on the adaptation of the EGP scheme (Erikson-Goldthorpe-Portocarero). In this way, some features of incipient transformation are observed, but marking a trend in the class structure, of relative shrinking of the class of skilled manual workers, while there is a growth of the class of services.. on the other hand, a change in trend has been observed since 2016, which deepens in 2018, towards greater economic inequality between classes.