EXCLUDED OR INCLUDED? SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION AMONG ETHNIC MINORITIES IN CHILE (1996-2006)

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the socioeconomic position of indigenous groups in Chile, filling an existing gap in the literature on indigenous population in Latin America, more focused on countries with a higher presence of aborigine population. First, it is found that both moderate and severe poverty are more acute among indigenous than among non-indigenous citizens. Second, these results also apply when using measures of non-monetary deprivation, like unsatisfied basic needs indicators. Nevertheless, income polarization by ethnicity is not high. Third, there have been large improvements in the living conditions of indigenous people, most of them even more substantial than among the rest of population. Therefore, it cannot be concluded that Chilean indigenous group have been marginalized from the remarkable economic prosperity experienced by the country during the last years.