This paper explores some of the factors linking income growth, income distribution and poverty, historically observed in LACs, with particular reference to the recent experiences in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela. Given that the LACs have historically shown a high level of income concentration by all measures along with a high level of poverty which has invited a multitude of interpretations, this paper tries to analytically explore some myths on Latin American income distribution that are ingrained in the conventional literature.

April 22, 2008.