The Merit of Ascription? Economic Elite Perceptions of Inheritance Taxation.

Inheritance represents a conflict between the individual and society. On one hand, the intergenerational transmission of resources favors the reproduction of privilege. On the other hand, contemporary individualization processes prioritize individual achievement. This paper addresses this conflict through a sociological approach by analyzing perceptions of inheritance taxation based on 32 in-depth interviews with members of the economic elite in Chile. Findings show that the principle of individual freedom in decisions regarding resource use prevails over the redistributive function that controls inheritance and favors personal attainment. In addition, a negative view of inheritance prevails, which is sustained by three major repertoires of evaluation emphasizing its inefficiency, ineffectiveness, economic inconvenience, and lack of foundation, as its purpose or utility is unknown. This last argument is surprising because it does not reject this tax for its design or application; rather, it confronts some crucial ideas with which it is usually linked, namely opportunity levelling at the beginning of a new generation and redistribution of privilege.

[Access to social networks and health care among extremely poor people]. / Acceso a redes sociales y de salud de población en extrema pobreza.

BACKGROUND: Extremely poor people have more problems to have access to social networks and health care. AIM: To evaluate the access to health services and the perception about these services of adults living in conditions of extreme poverty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was applied to 361 people living in slums aged 15 to 77 years (83% females), that were living in these conditions for a mean of 11 years. Twenty six in-depth interviews were also performed to prototypical subjects living in extreme poverty. RESULTS: Ten percent of subjects were illiterate. Sixty two percent were unsatisfied with their access to health services and 32% were not registered in primary health clinics. Among children of less than 6 years of age, 22% were delayed in their vaccination schedule and 32% were not withdrawing the milk delivered by the complementary feeding program of the clinic. The qualitative analysis revealed that the lack of access to health care is associated with the feeling of exclusion, mutual distrust and lack of resolution of health problems. CONCLUSIONS: People living in extreme poverty are distrustful and perceive obstacles to have access to the health care system.

Acceso a redes sociales y de salud de población en extrema pobreza / Access to social networks and health care among extremely poor people

Background: Extremely poor people have more problems to have access to social networks and health care. Aim: To evaluate the access to health services and the perception about these services of adults living in conditions of extreme poverty. Material and methods: A survey was applied to 361 people living in slums aged 15 to 77 years (83 percent females), that were living in these conditions for a mean of 11 years. Twenty six in-depth interviews were also performed to prototypical subjects living in extreme poverty. Results: Ten percent of subjects were illiterate. Sixty two percent were unsatisfied with their access to health services and 32 percent were not registered in primary health clinics. Among children of less than 6 years of age, 22 percent were delayed in their vaccination schedule and 32 percent were not withdrawing the milk delivered by the complementary feeding program of the clinic. The qualitative analysis revealed that the lack of access to health care is associated with the feeling of exclusion, mutual distrust and lack of resolution of health problems. Conclusions: People living in extreme poverty are distrustful and perceive obstacles to have access to the health care system.