Sustainable development from the perspective of social and economic inequality in Latin America and Mexico 93 65
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51896/kzvjpc25Keywords:
Sustainable development, social inequality in Mexico, indigenous autonomy, social and solidarity economy in Latin AmericaAbstract
In Latin America, and particularly in Mexico, social and economic inequality stands as one of the most significant barriers to attaining genuinely sustainable development, a situation worsened by decades of neoliberal policy and heavily privatized models that have widened structural divides. This paper sets out to examine, through a review of specialized literature, how inequality, sustainability and economic models intersect, while also mapping the social, political and community-based responses that have emerged in reaction to these challenges. To this end, studies published between 2015 and 2025 in high-impact academic journals were reviewed, covering themes such as the social and solidarity economy, indigenous autonomy, the decentralization of social spending, and welfare reform. Methodologically, a qualitative analysis of specialized sources was carried out to identify patterns, points of convergence and tensions surrounding the pursuit of equity and sustainability. The evidence gathered suggests that development approaches grounded in cooperation, self-management and distributive justice offer greater potential for reducing inequality and reinforcing both social and environmental sustainability. Moving toward a sustainable model in the region therefore calls for rethinking existing economic and welfare structures through inclusive policies that bring together territorial autonomy, social equity and community resilience.
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