Map of Social Policies in Argentina
How has social spending evolved in Argentina? Which population groups receive greater protection, and which remain underserved?
The Map of Social Policies in Argentina is a series of reports published by CIAS and Fundar that examines the evolution of the main social programs serving the most vulnerable groups. By compiling and systematizing budget and coverage data, the reports make it possible to compare priorities across administrations and identify continuities, changes, and imbalances in resource allocation.
Their contribution lies in providing a comprehensive view of policies typically studied in isolation, offering evidence and proposals for building a more equitable and effective social protection system.
“Map of Social Policies in Argentina 2025.
Continuities and Ruptures under Javier Milei’s Presidency”,
Andrés Schipani, Lara Forlino and María Victoria Anauati
CIAS-FUNDAR
The Map of Social Policies in Argentina 2025 analyzes continuities and ruptures in social policy during the first year of Javier Milei’s presidency, placing them in the context of developments since 2002. The report examines the scale and distribution of the 2024 spending cuts, distinguishing their effects across programs and age groups.
The study identifies the largest reduction in social spending over the period examined, concentrated particularly in programs targeting young people and adults, such as PROGRESAR scholarships and cooperative programs. Overall, the cuts occurred primarily through a decline in the purchasing power of benefits, while the total number of beneficiaries remained relatively stable. This pattern intensified a downward trend in benefit levels observed since 2015, with the exception of benefits for children.
At the same time, the report highlights stronger social protection for children, driven by the increase in the real value of the Universal Child Allowance (AUH). It thus shows that spending cuts did not affect all areas of social policy equally: sharp reductions in support for young people, adults, and older adults coexisted with greater spending on children.
“Map of Social Policies in Argentina 2023"
Andrés Schipani and Lara Forlino
CIAS-FUNDAR
The Map of Social Policies in Argentina 2023 analyzes the evolution and composition of social spending between 2002 and 2022. This edition covers the early years of Alberto Fernández’s administration and the response to the pandemic, while introducing new dimensions of analysis: the distribution of resources across age groups and social spending’s share of the economy and the national budget.
The report finds that social protection expanded its coverage, but most benefits lost purchasing power. It highlights increased spending on children through the Tarjeta Alimentar food assistance program, which narrowed the gap with spending on older adults amid declining pension incomes. It also identifies persistently limited resources for promoting formal employment and insufficient support for young people, particularly in education and access to employment.
Based on these findings, the report argues that social policy has helped cushion vulnerable populations but has had limited capacity to foster upward social mobility. It proposes improving program design, coordination, and evaluation, expanding opportunities for young people, and facilitating the transition to formal employment.
“Map of Social Policies in Argentina 2021"
Andrés Schipani, Rodrigo Zarazaga and Lara Forlino
CIAS-FUNDAR
The article analyzes the composition and evolution of social spending aimed at combating poverty in Argentina between 2002 and 2020. It begins with a paradox: despite being among the Latin American countries that invest the most in social protection, Argentina has failed to achieve a sustained reduction in poverty. To address this issue, it proposes examining not only how much is spent, but also how resources are distributed, which programs are prioritized, and which population groups they reach.
The study examines the main components of social policy—family allowances, noncontributory pensions, cooperative programs, food assistance, educational scholarships, and formal employment subsidies—and identifies changes and continuities across administrations. It also compares Argentina’s performance with that of other countries in the region. Its main findings highlight greater investment in protecting poor older adults than poor children, the growing importance of cooperatives for informal workers since 2016, and the relatively limited role of policies aimed at promoting access to formal employment.
Based on this assessment, the article offers proposals for a fairer and more efficient distribution of social spending. These include tailoring noncontributory family allowances to different levels of poverty and extreme poverty, promoting formal employment among young people from households dependent on informal work, and strengthening cooperatives’ integration into the formal economy.