[NYTr] Venez Social Programs Reach Many, but Income Disparities Persist Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:18:31 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit excerpted from VIO Venezuelan News Roundup - Jul 25, 2007 [Venezuela jumped from middle wellbeing status in 1997 to high wellbeing levels in 2005, according to the findings of an income study by the Central Bank of Venezuela. The study shows that income disparities persist in the country despite progress on poverty reduction, El Universal reports, for the richest 10% of Venezuelans still enjoy 40% of the nation's wealth. Findings also included the fact that just over 47% of Venezuelan familiies nationwide have benefited from government social welfare programs. As part of those programs, over one hundred Nicaraguans will be given free cataract surgery in Venezuela, El Universal reported yesterday. The group will be treated at Caracas hospitals as part of Mission Milagro, which has already provided free eye care to many thousands of Venezuelans, particularly among communities previously lacking access to medical services. -VIO] El Universal - July 24, 2007 http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/07/24/en_eco_art_the-richest-10-perce_24A904757.shtml The richest 10 percent gets 37.6 percent of income A survey conducted by the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) in Venezuelan households as of 2005 found slight deterioration of income distribution, compared with 2000. Based on the survey, the richest 10 percent in the population gets 37.6 percent of the income, and the poorest 10 percent gets as little as 1.4 percent. BCV used a tool called the Gini's coefficient to measure inequality of income distribution. It is defined as a ratio with values between 0 and 1. 0 corresponds to perfect income equality, that is, everyone has the same income, and 1 corresponds to perfect income inequality, that is, one person has all the income, while everyone else has zero income. In the Venezuelan case, the ratio went from 0.44 percent in 2000 up to 0.48 percent in 2005. BCV prepared an index on living conditions, based on a reference matrix including health, housing, education of the head of the family and income. The index values are from 0 to 100. A value of 80-100 shows high-quality living conditions; 0-49 accounts for poor living conditions. "Venezuela climbed from a middle mean wellbeing in 1997 (60-69) to high wellbeing levels (80-100) in 2005," said BCV. As for the impact of government social welfare programs, the survey found that 47.4 percent of families nationwide got some benefit from any program. *** El Universal - July 24, 2007 http://www.eluniversal.com/2007/07/24/en_pol_art_nicaraguans-arrive-i_24A905049.shtml Nicaraguans arrive in Venezuela to undergo cataract surgery 102 Nicaraguans Tuesday traveled to Venezuela to undergo cataract and pterygium surgery free of charge, in the context of the health program "MisiC3n Milagro", according to a diplomatic source. Franklin Coronado, charge d'affaires at the Venezuelan Embassy to Managua, said the patients (53 women and 49 men) are poor people coming from every corner of the Central American country. The group would be attended in two hospitals in Caracas, where they would undergo cataract and pterygium surgery "free of charge" for the patients or the Nicaraguan government, added Coronado. "After they get their visas, every expense, including transportation tickets, nourishment, lodging and surgery, is paid by Venezuela," said Coronado as quoted by DPA. * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ .Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================