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coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
with Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins
demise point out that the Chilean
ESTUDIO
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
ESTABILIDAD DEL EMPLEO O DEL INGRESO?
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
ANLISIS
SISTEMA
DEscars
PROTECCIN
systems, the Concertacin
is DEL
geriatric,
bearing the
of miscellaneous
1
CONTRA
EL
DESEMPLEO
ENthe
CHILE
corruption charges against members, including
stripping of
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
Kevin
Cowan
general disillusionment that goes with
holding
the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
En Chile un 70% de los trabajadores tiene miedo a perder su fuente
necessarily devastating
to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
de trabajo. Este temor est bien fundado si se considera que en Chile
In the first place,
thecada
Chilean
economy
hastrabajo
come se
through
theolast
five cada
years
uno de
cuatro
puestos de
destruye
se crea
in far better ao.
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
A diferencia de los pases desarrollados, sin embargo, la ausenemployment cia
anddegrowth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
una red de proteccin social lleva a que muchos de estos
Concertacincambios
may well
be in se
a position
claim
forfamigood
de empleo
traduzcan in
en 2005
fuertesto
cadas
en credit
el ingreso
economic stewardship.
Next,este
many
of La
thesolucin
issuesms
surrounding
the nonliar. Cmo evitar
costo?
comn en pases
en
democratic desarrollo
legacy of
Pinochet era por
including
the Esta
renowned
sonthe
las indemnizaciones
aos de servicio.
poltica otorga un seguro al trabajador formal, pero le resta flexibilidad a la

KEVIN COWAN. Ph.D. en Economa, MIT. Actualmente se desempea como


economista senior del Banco Central de Chile.
1 Este artculo fue escrito mientras el autor trabajaba en el Departamento de
Estudios del Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) y se basa extensamente en
Cowan y Micco (2005). Agradezco la valiosa colaboracin de Mara Cristina Betancourt, Mara Eugenia Genoni, Erwin Hansen y Dany Jaimovich en la preparacin de
este documento. Agradezco tambin los comentarios de Eduardo Engel, Felipe Sez y a
los participantes del Taller de Creacin de Empleo organizado por Expansiva y del
Seminario de Seguro de Cesanta organizado por la SAFP. Las opiniones expresadas en
este artculo son de exclusiva responsabilidad del autor y no representan las del Banco
Central de Chile.

Estudios Pblicos, 105 (verano 2007).

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with174
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
empresa para enfrentar cambios en la demanda y productividad, lo
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
que a la larga se traduce en menos empleos y salarios ms bajos.
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
Este trabajo analiza el sistema de indemnizaciones existente en Chile
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
a la luz de datos recientes de rotacin laboral, as como los efectos
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
sobre el ingreso de los hogares que puede significar esta alta rotaparties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
cin. A la luz de este anlisis se proponen una serie de cambios al
over socialmecanismo
issues, such
as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
de indemnizaciones y al sistema de seguro de desempleo.
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much lessI. Introduccin
among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges
againstlaboral
members,
including
the cuando
stripping
a inestabilidad
siempre
est presente
se lesofpreparliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the de
gunta a los chilenos por sus principales temores. Es as como la encuesta
general
disillusionment
that
goes
with
holding
the
reins
of
power
for
so
opinin Latino Barmetro encuentra que en Chile el 70% de los trabajadores
long.
Onemiedo
mightaconclude,
thatdethe
coalition
simplyest
ready
tofundado.
expire. En
tiene
perder suthen,
fuente
trabajo.
Esteistemor
bien
Anycon
of una
these
or some
combination
of them,
could
indeed
pases
redforces,
de seguridad
social
precaria, los
periodos
de desempleo
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
del jefe de hogar llevan a fuertes cadas en el ingreso familiar que se tradunecessarily
devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
cen en una contraccin del consumo, mora en los pagos de la vivienda y de
In the
first place,
the Chilean
has come
through
fivey,years
seguros
mdicos,
cada deeconomy
la autoestima
del jefe
o jefathe
de last
hogar
en alguin far
than thatescolar.
of any En
of este
its Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
nosbetter
casos,shape
a la desercin
ltimo caso,
la prdida
del empleo
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
puede tener consecuencias permanentes para la familia.
Concertacin
well belaborales
in a position
in 2005 to por
claim
good de
Losmay
mercados
se caracterizan
unacredit
alta for
rotacin
economic
many
of the
issues de
surrounding
the nonuno de
puestosstewardship.
de trabajo. DeNext,
acuerdo
a cifras
recientes
la OIT, en Chile
democratic
legacy
of de
thetrabajo
Pinochet
era including
the renowned
cada cuatro
puestos
se destruye
o se crea cada
ao. Estudios
recientes, tanto para pases desarrollados como para Chile, muestran que
parte importante del crecimiento de la productividad, y por ende de los
salarios, se debe al proceso de reasignacin de puestos de trabajo que
permite el movimiento de trabajadores desde firmas menos productivas a
aquellas ms eficientes. Al mismo tiempo, esto lleva a que muchos trabajadores deban pasar por periodos de desempleo, independientemente del ciclo econmico agregado. A lo anterior se suma el hecho de que en Chile los
salarios son rgidos a la baja. Ante un shock negativo de demanda agregada, como el experimentado en 1998, una parte importante del ajuste del
mercado del trabajo recae en el empleo. En vez de repartir el costo del ajuste
en bajas salariales para todos los trabajadores, el mercado laboral chileno lo
concentra en aquellos que pierden su trabajo.
En este trabajo se presenta y discute la evidencia nacional e internacional de los beneficios y costos de la alta rotacin de trabajadores. Por el
lado de los beneficios se examina la literatura terica y emprica que analiza
el efecto que tiene la reasignacin de empleos en el crecimiento de la pro-

www.cepchile.cl

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
175
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
ductividad
agregada.
Por el
lado de los
se estudia
el impacto
government
during
the 1990s.
Moreover,
thecostos,
coalition
itself was
initiallyde una
alta
rotacin,
y
por
ende
de
la
inestabilidad
laboral,
en
el
bienestar
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s andde los
En particular,
se estudia
el impacto
delthat
desempleo
del jefe de hogar
1980s,hogares.
so as time
passes, the
compelling
force of
initial motivation
en
el
ingreso
familiar,
y
especficamente
la
existencia
de
mecanismos de
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
autoseguro
o
de
transferencias
pblicas
y
privadas
que
permitan
suavizar
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
la
cada
de
ingresos
que
genera
el
desempleo
del
jefe
de
hogar.
Por
ltimo,
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
tomando
este anlisis
de los costos
beneficios
control.
Finally,enbyconsideracin
the 2005 elections,
the Concertacin
willyhave
held thede una
alta
reasignacin
de
trabajadores,
se
discuten
polticas
pblicas
para enpresidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
frentar
el
problema
de
la
inestabilidad
de
los
ingresos
de
los
trabajadores.
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
En el anywhere,
ptimo, estas
polticas
de un seguro
de desempleo a
coalitions
much
less debern
among proveer
Latin Americas
presidential
los hogares,
minimizando
las distorsiones
crecimiento
de la productivisystems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearingen
theel scars
of miscellaneous
2. En particular, se discuten cambios al mecanismo de indemnizaciones
dad
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
por aos rights
de servicio
al sistema
de seguro deputies
de desempleo
que and
opera
parliamentary
from yfive
of the coalitions
in 2002,
theactualmente
en
Chile.
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
II. Rotacin
el mercado de
Any of these forces,
or someencombination
oftrabajo
them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
Una creciente
literatura
basada
en datos
necessarily devastating
to the
coalitions
survival
for a micro-econmicos
number of reasons.a nivel
plantas
individuos
ha enfatizado
quethrough
los cambios
netos
el empleo
In the de
first
place,othe
Chilean economy
has come
the last
fiveenyears
capturan
slo
una
parte
(pequea)
de
la
dinmica
total
del
empleo,
y esconin far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
den una alta rotacin de puestos de trabajo entre sectores y firmas, y una
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
an mayor rotacin de trabajadores. En cualquier periodo de tiempo, hay
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
tanto plantas que estn aumentando sus puestos de trabajo (creacin de
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonpuestos de trabajo) como plantas que los estn disminuyendo (destruccin
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
de puestos de trabajo). Sobre esta rotacin de puestos de trabajo hay un
movimiento adicional de empleo que se genera cuando distintos individuos
se mueven entre los puestos de trabajo que ya existen en la economa. El
resultado es un mercado de trabajo extremadamente dinmico, donde una
fraccin importante del empleo debe ser reasignada en cada periodo. Inevitablemente, en una fraccin de estos movimientos entre puestos de trabajo
(o cambios de empleo) el trabajador debe pasar por un periodo de desempleo. Recordemos que el mercado de trabajo producto tanto de la heterogeneidad de los trabajadores y de los requisitos de cada puesto de trabajo
como de la ausencia de informacin perfecta se caracteriza por un proceso de bsqueda, donde slo una parte del stock de desempleados y vacantes logran contratos de empleo en cada periodo3.
2

Adems, desde una perspectiva conceptual, se analiza cmo medidas que neutralizan la cada de los ingresos durante el desempleo ayudan a incrementar la eficiencia
del match entre trabajadores y empleos, aumentando tanto la eficiencia como el nivel
de empleo.
3 Para una discusin amplia de este tema ver Pissarides (2000).

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with176
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
Tabla the
N 11990s.
muestra
la creacin,
y rotacin
de puestos
governmentLaduring
Moreover,
thedestruccin
coalition itself
was initially
de
trabajo
(como
porcentaje
del
empleo
total)
para
una
muestra
pases
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970sdeand
desarrollados,
y Chile.force
Para Chile
muestran
datos de la
1980s,
so as timelatinoamericanos
passes, the compelling
of thatseinitial
motivation
OIT (2004) para el empleo en las firmas cubiertas por la Asociacin Chilena
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
Durante
el periodo
1996-2002,
empleo endivided
Chile cay
de Seguridad
(ACHS).the
parties
most notably
Christian
Democrats
areelinternally
en
promedio
a
una
tasa
de
0,3%
al
ao.
En
este
mismo
periodo
crearon
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access tosebirth
nuevos
puestos
de
trabajo
a
una
tasa
de
12,9%,
mientras
que
cada
ao se
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
destruyand
una13,2%
de in
losthe
puestos
de trabajo
existentes.
El resultado
es una
presidency
majority
Chamber
of Deputies
(the legislative
house
rotacin
total
de
puestos
de
trabajo
del
26,2%
por
ao,
dos
rdenes
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty de
magnitud
mayor quemuch
el cambio
el empleo
Esta cifrapresidential
indica que uno
coalitions
anywhere,
less en
among
Latinneto.
Americas
de cada
puestos is
degeriatric,
trabajo sebearing
crea o the
desaparece
ao. La cifra
systems,
thecuatro
Concertacin
scars of cada
miscellaneous
de
rotacin
de
puestos
de
trabajo
es
similar
a
la
observada
en
Brasil,
corruption charges against members, including the strippingMxico
of
y a la muestra
pases
paradeputies
los cuales
existen
parliamentary
rightsde
from
five desarrollados
of the coalitions
in 2002,
anddatos
the de
rotacin.
general
disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
Se puede
descomponer
creacin
de is
puestos
trabajo
en dos: las
long. One might
conclude,
then, thatlathe
coalition
simplyde
ready
to expire.
expansiones
de
plantas
existentes
y
la
entrada
de
nuevas
plantas
al mercaAny of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
do.
Como
muestra
la
Tabla
N
1,
cerca
del
16%
de
la
creacin
de
empleo
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as en
Chile sedevastating
debe a la entrada
de nuevas survival
plantas. for
En aforma
anloga,
se puede
necessarily
to the coalitions
number
of reasons.
descomponer
la
destruccin
de
empleo
en
reducciones
del
tamao
de las
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
plantas
continan
operando
cierre
de plantas.
En Chile,
aproximadain far
betterque
shape
than that
of anyyof
its Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
mente
una
cuarta
parte
de
la
destruccin
de
empleo
se
debe
al cierre
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003.
The de
plantas. Este
al discutir
buscan
paliar la
Concertacin
maypunto
well es
beimportante
in a position
in 2005polticas
to claimque
credit
for good
cada destewardship.
los ingresosNext,
durante
el desempleo,
en particular
es importante
economic
many
of the issues
surrounding
the non- al
momento
de
evaluar
las
indemnizaciones
por
aos
de
servicio.
Para
un 25%
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
de los puestos de trabajo que se destruye no existe un empleador que
contine en operaciones luego del despido de los trabajadores.
La rotacin de trabajadores est estrechamente ligada a la rotacin
de puestos de trabajo. De hecho, el menor valor entre la creacin y destruccin de puestos de trabajo es el piso para la rotacin de trabajadores.
Sobre este piso est el flujo de trabajadores que se origina al reemplazar un
trabajador por otro en un mismo puesto de trabajo. A pesar de que no
contamos con datos de rotacin de trabajadores para Chile, la evidencia
internacional muestra que, en la mayora de los casos, la rotacin de trabajadores es por lo menos dos veces mayor que la rotacin de puestos de
trabajo (Figura N 1).
Hay una alta heterogeneidad en la rotacin de puestos de trabajo
dentro de la economa. En primer lugar, hay diferencias sustanciales en la
rotacin de puestos de trabajo en los distintos sectores de actividad econmica (Tabla N 2). La rotacin en el sector construccin es la ms alta. Otros
sectores donde la rotacin es relativamente alta son agricultura, caza y pes-

21,3

Notas:
a Para EE.UU. la OECD reporta los siguientes valores: Neto 2,6, Creacin 13, Entrada 8,4 y Salida 7,3.
b Cubre todas las firmas que pagaron impuestos en Brasil.
c Cubre las empresas afiliadas a la Asociacin Chilena de Seguridad.
d Cubre los empleos con seguridad social (IMSS).

22,6

12,9
9,9

Fuentes: Reinecke y Ferrada (2004); OECD: Employment Outlook 1996; Davis y Haltiwanger (1999); Kaplan, Martnez-Gonzlez y
Robertson (2003) y Menezes-Filho et al. (2002).

6,0
19,5
7,3
13,5
4,2
33,0
-0,3
12,9
2,3
13,2
3,1
26,2
1,1
16,0
7,2
14,9
5,0
30,9
-3,2
9,7

-0,1
14,5
6,5
14,6
5,0
29,1
-1,6
10,4
3,9
12,0
3,4
22,4
2,2
16,0
6,1
13,8
5,0
29,8
1,2
12,3
3,9
11,1
3,8
23,4
1,5
9,0
2,5
7,5
1,9
16,5
0,7
13,9
7,2
13,2
7,0
27,1
1,5
11,4

2,6
14,5
3,2
11,9
3,1
26,4
Cambio neto
Creacin bruta
Entrada
Destruccin bruta
Salida
Rotacin

-4,1
15,7
7,4
19,8
8,5
35,5

Italia Dinamarca Finlandia Suecia


Francia Alemania

Nueva EE.UU.a
Zelanda
Canad
Pas

FLUJOS DE EMPLEO (PARA TODA LA ECONOMA)


(Promedio anual como % del empleo)
TABLA N 1:

www.cepchile.cl

Estonia

Brasilb

Chilec

Mxicod

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nondemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned

177

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with178
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
FIGURA N 1:
FLUJOS BRUTOS ANUALES DE EMPLEO Y TRABAJADORES
government during(Promedio
the 1990s.
Moreover,
the coalition itself was initially
anual como
% del empleo)
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Canad (1987-1988)
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
EE. UU. (2001)
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Brasil (1991-2000)
control. Finally,
by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
Finlandia (1986-1988)
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
(1985-1991)
coalitionsItalia
anywhere,
much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
Mxico (1993-2000)
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
Alemania rights
(1985-1990)
general disillusionment that
holding
0 goes
10 with
20 30
40 the
50 reins
60 of
70 power
80 for
90 so
100
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Rotacin de trabajadores
Rotacin de empleos
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
Fuentes: Bertola et al. (1999); Davis, Haltiwanger y Schuh (1996); Barnes y
necessarily
devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
Haskel (2002); Kaplan, Martnez-Gonzlez y Robertson (2003) y Menezes-Filho et al.
In the
first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
(2002).
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
TABLA N 2:
FLUJOS DE EMPLEO EN CHILE POR SECTORES ECONMICOS
economic
stewardship.
Next, many of the issues surrounding the non(Promedio anual como % del empleo)
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
Rotacin
Sector

Agricultura, caza y pesca


Minas y canteras
Manufactura
Construccin
Electricidad, gas y agua
Comercio
Transporte y comunicaciones
Servicios
Manufactura (ENIA 1979-1999)

Continuas

Entradas-salidas

Total

27,5
23,1
18,9
45,7
13,8
18,9
20,2
16,8
16,2

5,5
7,4
5,5
11,6
6,3
5,6
6,1
4,3
9,8

33,0
30,5
24,4
57,3
20,1
24,5
26,3
21,1
25,9

Nota: Para todos los sectores se usa informacin de la ACHS en el periodo


(1996-2002), salvo para manufactura que se obtiene de la Encuesta de Industria Anual
(ENIA 1979-1999).
Fuente: Reinecke y Ferrada (2004) y construccin del autor.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
179
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
ca, y minas
y carteras.
El Moreover,
sector de electricidad,
y agua,
otra parte,
government
during
the 1990s.
the coalitiongas
itself
was por
initially
es
el
de
menor
rotacin
de
puestos
de
trabajo
pas.
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
segundo
hay diferencias
la initial
rotacin
de puestos de
1980s, so asEn
time
passes,lugar,
the compelling
force entre
of that
motivation
trabajo
entre
trabajadores
con
distintos
niveles
salariales.
Variaciones
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component en el
de especificidad
del trabajoDemocrats
pueden llevarare
a diferencias
el nivel de
partiesgrado
most
notably the Christian
internally en
divided
rotacin
de empleo.
empleo
es of
altamente
firma (es
over social
issues,
such asSitheunlegal
status
divorce especfico
and accessdetolabirth
decir
que
su
aporte
a
la
produccin
de
la
firma
es
mayor
que
su
costo de
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
oportunidad),
la
renta
que
se
genera
puede
servir
como
colchn
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house ante
de demanda
productividad,
reduciendo
la volatilidad
del empleo.
electedshocks
by popular
vote) yfor
16 years. By
the standards
of multiparty
Entonces,
si la especificidad
positivamente
correlacionada
con el capicoalitions
anywhere,
much less est
among
Latin Americas
presidential
tal
humano
(y
a
su
vez
ste
est
correlacionado
con
los
salarios),
el nivel de
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
rotacin
de
trabajo
debiese
ser
menor
a
mayores
niveles
salariales.
corruption charges against members, including the stripping La
of Tabla
N 3 muestra
niveles
dethe
rotacin
de puestos
deintrabajo
distintos
parliamentary
rights los
from
five of
coalitions
deputies
2002, para
and the
quintiles
de salariosthat
durante
periodo
1990-1999
para
sectorfor
manufactugeneral
disillusionment
goes elwith
holding
the reins
ofelpower
so
rero
en
Chile,
Mxico
y
Estados
Unidos.
Tanto
en
Chile
como
en
los
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire. dems
pases
haythese
una relacin
monotnica
entre los niveles
decould
rotacin
y el nivel
Any of
forces, or
some combination
of them,
indeed
de los the
salarios.
En Chile labut
rotacin
en el
quintil
salarios as
es 75%
undermine
Concertacin,
we do
notprimer
regard
thesedefactors
mayordevastating
que la rotacin
en coalitions
el quinto quintil
de salarios.
necessarily
to the
survival
for a number of reasons.
In the first place,
the Chilean
economydiferencias
has come through
last five
years de
Tercero,
hay importantes
entre losthe
niveles
de rotacin
in far puestos
better shape
than de
thatplantas
of anydeofdistinto
its Southern
neighbors,
and
de trabajo
tamao.Cone
La Tabla
N 4 muestra
la
employment
growth
in first
months
of 2003. dentro
The del
relacinand
inversa
quefigures
existe rebounded
entre tamao
de planta
y rotacin
Concertacin
may well be en
in Chile.
a position
in 2005
to claim
sector manufacturero
La tasa
de rotacin
de credit
puestosfordegood
trabajo de
economic
stewardship.
many
of the issues
surrounding
the nonlas plantas
grandes Next,
(ms de
250 empleados)
es menos
de la mitad
de la tasa
democratic
legacy
ofplantas
the Pinochet
including
the renowned
de rotacin
de las
pequeas era
(menos
de 50 empleados).

TABLA N 3:

FLUJOS DE EMPLEOS POR QUINTIL DE SALARIOS


(Promedio anual como % del empleo)

Quintil

Chile

Mxico

EE. UU.

1
2
3
4
5
Perodo
Sector

33
25
24
21
19
1990-1999
Manufactura

24
18
15
14
13
1993-2000
Manufactura*

26
21
19
15
15
1973-1988
Manufactura

Nota: Promedios anuales. * Slo firmas continuas.


Fuentes: Davis, Haltiwanger y Schuh (1996) y construccin del autor.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with180
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy
has slowed
somewhat since the coalitions early years in
TABLA N 4:
FLUJOS DE EMPLEO POR TAMAO DE PLANTA
government during(Promedio
the 1990s.
Moreover,
the coalition itself was initially
anual como
% del empleo)
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s,
so as timeBrasil
passes, the
of that initial
Nmero
Chilecompelling
Colombiaforce
Mxico
Mxico motivation
EE.UU.
de naturally
trabajadores weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
might
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
< 50 issues,
0,40
0,29 of divorce
0,52
over social
such as 0,40
the legal status
and 0,18
access to 0,34
birth
50 - 99
0,33
0,30
0,21
0,35
0,17
0,26
control.
by
elections,0,10
the Concertacin
will
have held0,20
the
100 -Finally,
249
0,30the 20050,27
0,31
0,15
> = 250 and a majority
0,21
0,08 of Deputies
0,19 (the legislative
0,12
0,14
presidency
in0,18
the Chamber
house
Periodo
1991-2000
1986-1999
1977-1999
1993-2000
1993-2000
1973-1988
electedSector
by popular
vote)Manufactura
for 16 years.
By the
standards
of multiparty
Todos los
Manufactura
Privadas
Manufactura*
Manufactura
sectores much less among Latin Americas presidential
coalitions anywhere,
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
* No considera
ni salidas
ni entradas.including the stripping of
corruptionNota:
charges
against
members,
parliamentary
rights
from
five of ythe
coalitions
deputies
in 2002, andythe
Fuentes:
Davis,
Haltiwanger
Schuh
(1996); Kaplan,
Martnez-Gonzlez
Robertson (2003);
Medina, Melndez
y Seinm
(2002);
Menezes-Filho
al. (2002),
clculo
general
disillusionment
that goes
with
holding
the reinset of
power yfor
so del
autor.
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
AnyEnof sntesis:
these forces,
or some
combination
of them,
could
indeed de
en Chile
hay una
alta tasa de
rotacin
de puestos
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
trabajo y probablemente una an mayor rotacin de trabajadores4. Adems,
necessarily
devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
hay diferencias importantes en dicha rotacin de puestos de trabajo entre
In the
first place,
Chilean
economy
has come
through
the last
five years de
sectores,
entrethe
niveles
salariales
y entre
tamaos
de planta.
Trabajadores
in far
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and
bajos salarios, en empresas pequeas del sector construccin, por ejemplo,
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
enfrentan tasas de rotacin mucho mayores que el promedio de la econoConcertacin
may mecanismo
well be in adeposition
in desempleo
2005 to claim
ma. Cualquier
seguro de
debecredit
tomarfor
en good
consideeconomic
stewardship.
Next,
many
of
the
issues
surrounding
the
racin este dinamismo, y en particular el hecho de que muchas nonde estas
democratic
legacy
of the
era
including
the renowned
transiciones
laborales
traenPinochet
consigo un
paso
por el desempleo.
A lo anterior se suma el hecho de que los salarios en Chile son
rgidos a la baja. Ante un shock de demanda negativo, como el experimentado en 1998, una parte importante del ajuste del mercado del trabajo recae en
el empleo. En vez de repartir el costo del ajuste en bajas salariales para
todos los trabajadores, el mercado laboral chileno lo concentra en aquellos
que pierden su trabajo.
III. Rotacin, reasignacin y productividad
Estudios recientes muestran que una parte importante del crecimiento de la productividad (y por ende de los salarios) se debe al proceso de
reasignacin de puestos de trabajo, que permite un movimiento de trabaja4 Si tomamos el promedio de la relacin entre rotacin de trabajadores y empleos, en Chile la rotacin de trabajadores sera alrededor del 80 por ciento. Evidencia
preliminar proveniente de los datos del seguro de desempleo confirman esta alta rotacin de trabajadores.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
181
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
dores desde
menosMoreover,
productivasthea firmas
msitself
eficientes
En esta secgovernment
duringfirmas
the 1990s.
coalition
was initially
cin
discutimos
la
importancia
de
la
reasignacin
de
recursos
entre
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s andplantas
proceso
de crecimiento
econmico.
Comenzamos
con motivation
una breve discu1980s,ensoel as
time passes,
the compelling
force
of that initial
sin
de
las
fuentes
de
la
heterogeneidad
en
la
productividad
entre plantas.
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
Luego
analizamos
evidencia
emprica
para
Estados
Unidos
y
Chile.
Concluiparties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
mos
que
existen
buenos
motivos
tericos
y
evidencia
emprica
suficiente
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
para
argumentar
esteelections,
proceso de
juega
rol held
importante
control.
Finally,
by theque
2005
thereasignacin
Concertacin
willun
have
the en
el
crecimiento
de
la
productividad
y
en
consecuencia
de
los
salarios
reales.
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
Si
el
gran
beneficio
de
la
reasignacin
es
mover
recursos
desde
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty las
plantas
menos productivas
hasta
ms productivas,
en primer
lugar es imporcoalitions
anywhere,
much less
among
Latin Americas
presidential
tante
por quisexiste
esta heterogeneidad
entre
plantas:
systems,
theentender
Concertacin
geriatric,
bearing the scars
of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
i. Proceso de aprendizaje: incertidumbre respecto a la demanda por
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
cierto tipo de productos o que la productividad de ciertos procesos producgeneral disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
tivos lleva a un proceso de experimentacin y de learning-by-doing a nivel
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
de plantas. Este proceso de experimentacin introduce varianza en el desAny of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
empeo de las plantas. Aquellas plantas que eligieron el mtodo de producundermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
cin ptimo tendrn niveles de productividad ms altos, atraern ms emnecessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
pleos y sern ms rentables. Por el contrario, plantas que eligen procesos
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
que resultan costosos tendern a contraerse y desaparecer (Jovanovic,
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
1982; Ericson y Pakes, 1995).
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
ii. Heterogeneidad en la capacidad emprendedora y gerencial: varianConcertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
za en la calidad de la administracin de las plantas tambin es una posible
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the noncausa de la heterogeneidad en el desempeo de las mismas. A pesar de que
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
no hay medidas concretas de dicha varianza, la existencia de altsimas remuneraciones para los puestos gerenciales, y la importancia de pagos contingentes al desempeo de muchas de las firmas son evidencia indirecta de la
importancia de este factor (Murphy, 1999)
iii. Shocks idiosincrticos a los costos y a la demanda de una firma
(Campbell, 1997).
iv. Embodied technology: una serie de autores han argumentado
que puede ser imposible o muy costoso modificar una planta existente para
incorporar cambios tecnolgicos recientes. Si es imposible, slo las nuevas
plantas incorporaran la nueva tecnologa, generando brechas de productividad importantes y forzando el cierre de las plantas antiguas. Las implicancias agregadas de este proceso de creacin-destructiva de procesos
productivos fueron reconocidos por Schumpeter en 1942, y han sido discutidos en la literatura econmica (Caballero y Hammour 1998 y 2000). Un caso
alternativo es el analizado por Cooper et al. (1999), y considera la posibilidad de pagar un costo de retooling, que permite introducir un cambio tec-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with182
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
nolgico during
a una the
planta
existente.
En lathe
medida
en que
retooling
government
1990s.
Moreover,
coalition
itselfelwas
initiallyhaga
obsoleta
las
habilidades
de
algunos
de
los
trabajadores
de
la
planta,
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s andtambinsogenerara
proceso
rotacin deforce
empleo:
el antiguo
1980s,
as time un
passes,
thedecompelling
of that
initial trabajador
motivationsera
reemplazado
por
un
trabajador
con
las
nuevas
habilidades.
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most
notably
Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided
En los
cuatro the
casos
presentados,
un movimiento
de factores
de prooverduccin
social issues,
such
as
the
legal
status
of
divorce
and
access
to
birth
desde las firmas menos productivas a las ms productivas es parte
control.
Finally,del
by proceso
the 2005deelections,
the Concertacin
will have
held the
importante
crecimiento
de productividad
agregado.
Idealpresidency
and
a
majority
in
the
Chamber
of
Deputies
(the
legislative
mente, uno quisiera contar con datos para el movimiento de capitalhouse
y trabaelected
by popular vote) forlos16datos
years.
By the standards
of multiparty
jo. Desafortunadamente,
de reasignacin
del capital
son escasos,
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
por lo que la literatura se ha concentrado en movimientos del trabajo. En
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
thebuscado
scars ofevaluar
miscellaneous
particular,
una serie de estudios
recientes
han
si: i) efecticorruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping
ofms
vamente el trabajo se mueve desde las plantas menos productivas
a las
parliamentary
rights
from
five
of
the
coalitions
deputies
in
2002,
and
the
productivas y ii) qu tan importante es este movimiento a la hora de explicar
general
disillusionment
that goesEn
with
holding
powerresumimos
for so
ganancias
de productividad.
lo que
siguethedereins
esta of
seccin
long.evidencia
One might
then,
that the coalition
queconclude,
existe para
el segundo
punto. is simply ready to expire.
AnyFoster,
of these
forces,
or
some
combination
of them,
indeed
Haltiwanger y Krian (1998) utilizan
datos could
de plantas
en el
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
sector manufacturero de Estados Unidos para analizar la relacin que as
existe
necessarily
devastating
the coalitions
survival for a number
of reasons.de la
entre la dinmica
deltoempleo
a nivel microeconmico
y el crecimiento
In the
first place, the
ChileanUsando
economy
has come
through
the last five
years
productividad
agregada.
datos
del periodo
1977-1987,
descompoin far
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and de
nen el crecimiento en la productividad total de los factores (PTF) a nivel
employment
and
growth
figures
rebounded
in
first
months
of
2003.
The
industria en dos componentes: ganancias de productividad dentro de las
Concertacin
may well ybeganancias
in a position
in 2005 to claim
credit for good
plantas individuales
de productividad
por reasignacin
de emeconomic
stewardship.
many of
the issues
surrounding
the nonpleo entre
plantas. ElNext,
componente
a nivel
de plantas
corresponde
al crecidemocratic
era including
the renowned
de the
cadaPinochet
planta, ponderado
por la fraccin
inicial de la
miento enlegacy
la PTF of
produccin que le corresponda a cada planta. El componente de reasignacin (el residuo) mide las ganancias de productividad que resultan de la
reasignacin de factores de produccin entre plantas existentes, la entrada
de nuevas plantas y la salida de plantas viejas. A pesar de que el resultado
exacto de la descomposicin es sensible a una serie de supuestos metodolgicos, los autores encuentran que entre un 35% y un 50% de la ganancias
en PTF en el sector manufacturero de Estados Unidos en este periodo se
debe a la reasignacin de factores entre plantas.
Bergoeing, Hernando y Repetto (2003) realizan la misma descomposicin del cambio en PTF para Chile, utilizando datos a nivel de plantas de la
ENIA para el sector manufacturero durante el periodo 1981-1999. La Tabla
N 5 reproduce la tabla 10 de Bergoeing et al. (2003). Para el periodo completo, encuentran que el componente de reasignacin explica aproximadamente
al 60% de la ganancia total de PTF. Durante el periodo de estabilidad macroeconmica entre 1990 y 1997 esta fraccin sube a 80%.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
183
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
TABLA N 5:
DESCOMPOSICIN CRECIMIENTO TFP CHILE
government during the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
Total Dentro
Entre
Cruce Entrada Salida Entrada Reasignacin
1980s, so as time passes,
the
compelling
force
of that initial motivation
de categ. categ.
neta
total
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties1981-1983
most notably-246
the Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided451
-697
-254
658
17
-29
46
over social
issues,
such
as
the
legal
status
of
divorce
and
access
to
1983-1990
-35
-145
-272
367
-68
-83
1 5 birth110
1990-1997
713
137
-268
570
8
2
-192
274
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the576
1997-1999
635
-71
-269
758
333
116
217
706
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
758 for 286
-144 By264
503
151of multiparty
352
471
elected1981-1999
by popular vote)
16 years.
the standards
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
Valores en is
miles
de pesosbearing
de 1985. the scars of miscellaneous
systems, the Nota:
Concertacin
geriatric,
Bergoeing,
y Repetto
(2003). the stripping of
corruption Fuente:
charges
againstHernando
members,
including
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
IV. Regulacin laboral y reasignacin laboral
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of
thesediscutimos
forces, oren
some
combination
of hay
them,
Como
la seccin
anterior,
unacould
serieindeed
de estudios
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
que muestran que una fraccin importante del crecimiento de
la productivinecessarily
devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
dad agregada est asociada con la reasignacin de empleados desde planIn the tas
firstdeplace,
the Chilean economy
hasdecome
through the lastEn
five
years
baja productividad
a aquellas
alta productividad.
este
contexto,
in far regulaciones
better shapelaborales
than thatque
of reducen
any of its
Southern Cone
neighbors,
andajustar
la flexibilidad
de las
firmas para
employment
and de
growth
figures
first months
2003. The
sus niveles
empleo
a las rebounded
condicionesincambiantes
delof
mercado
tienen un
Concertacin
may
well
be
in
a
position
in
2005
to
claim
credit
efecto negativo sobre el crecimiento de la productividad. for
Paragood
que este
economic
stewardship.
Next, many
of the econmicos
issues surrounding
the nonmecanismo
sea relevante
en trminos
se requiere,
en primer
democratic
legacy
of the laboral
Pinochet
era including
renowned
lugar, que
la regulacin
reduzca
la flexibilidad the
laboral
y por ende la
reasignacin de empleos en la economa, y segundo, que la menor flexibilidad impida el proceso de reasignacin de recursos desde plantas menos
productivas a las ms productivas. Una serie de estudios recientes confirman que efectivamente esto es lo que ocurre: regulaciones laborales que
aumentan el costo del proceso de despido reducen la reasignacin e impactan negativamente en las ganancias de productividad.
Caballero et al. (2004), utilizando datos del sector manufacturero
para una muestra de 60 pases, muestran que en pases en los cuales las
firmas enfrentan una regulacin laboral que hace difcil o costoso despedir a
un trabajador (y el entorno legal del pas es tal que esta regulacin se
cumple), las firmas tienen una mayor dificultad para ajustar su empleo a los
niveles ptimos que determinan las condiciones cambiantes del mercado.
Estos autores enfatizan la importancia de distinguir entre legislacin de jure
y de facto. Sobre la base de las estimaciones de este estudio, en pases con
alto imperio de la ley, como en el caso de Chile, una rigidizacin de la
legislacin laboral desde un nivel equivalente al presentado por el pas en el

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with184
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
percentil during
20 de rigidez
laboral
hasta otrothe
ubicado
en elitself
percentil
80 provoca
government
the 1990s.
Moreover,
coalition
was initially
la
disminucin
de
la
velocidad
de
ajuste
de
las
firmas
en
un
35%.
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s Sobre
and la
basesodeasuntime
modelo
sencillo,
estos autores
argumentan
que esta
cada en la
1980s,
passes,
the compelling
force
of that initial
motivation
velocidad
de
ajuste
puede
reducir
el
crecimiento
del
producto
en
0,85% y
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even
its component
PTF de ms de 10%5.
ocasionar
una
cada
de
una
vez
en
la
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
otro estudio
(2004)
directaover socialEn
issues,
such asreciente,
the legalMicco
statusyofPags
divorce
and cuantifican
access to birth
mente
el
impacto
de
la
regulacin
laboral
que
norma
los
despidos
sobre
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the la
rotacinand
de empleo
en la
Usando
una metodologa
de diferenciaspresidency
a majority
in economa.
the Chamber
of Deputies
(the legislative
house
en-diferencias,
estos
autores
muestran
que
en
pases
donde
la regulacin
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
laboral anywhere,
hace difcil much
o costoso
un trabajador
la presidential
reasignacin de
coalitions
less despedir
among aLatin
Americas
empleo
En particular,
los resultados
de the
estosscars
autores
implican que pasystems,
thecae.
Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
of miscellaneous
sar
en
su
muestra
del
percentil
10
al
90
en
trminos
de
regulacin
corruption charges against members, including the stripping laboral
of
reduce la reasignacin
de puestos
de trabajosdeputies
en un 30
por ciento.
parliamentary
rights from five
of the coalitions
in 2002,
and theSi la
reasignacin
es un componente
importante
delthe
crecimiento
de la productivigeneral
disillusionment
that goes with
holding
reins of power
for so
dad,
un
aumento
en
las
restricciones
laborales
puede
tener
un
considerable
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
impacto.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating
to the coalitions
fordealas
number
of reasons.
V. Desempleo,
consumo ysurvival
bienestar
familias
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
in far better
shape
than that
any of itsla Southern
Cone
neighbors,
Para
las familias
(o of
individuos)
alta rotacin
de empleo
y la and
combiemployment
growth
figures rebounded
first months
The en
nacin deand
shocks
de demanda
agregada in
y rigidez
salarialof se2003.
traducen
Concertacin
well be que
in a llevan
position
in 2005 to cadas
claim credit
forelgood
periodos demay
desempleo
a importantes
tanto en
ingreso
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many of Qu
the tan
issues
surrounding
the cadas
non- de
de la familia
como en
el consumo.
grandes
son dichas
democratic
of de
thela Pinochet
eralasincluding
renowned
consumo legacy
depender
capacidad de
familias parathe
encontrar
fuentes
de ingreso alternativas, o suavizar la cada temporal del ingreso a travs del
sistema financiero.
En esta seccin analizamos el impacto del desempleo del jefe de
hogar en el ingreso y consumo de las familias. Comenzamos con un breve
resumen metodolgico que enfatiza el rol que pueden jugar los mecanismos
de seguro y el mercado financiero para proteger a las familias de shocks
en su ingreso. Luego discutimos la evidencia emprica para pases desarrollados respecto a cmo y en cunto tiempo los hogares pueden suavizar su
consumo ante shocks de ingreso. Pensamos que dado el menor nivel de
desarrollo financiero de Chile la respuesta del consumo a un shock transitorio de ingreso en el pas debera ser an mayor que en dichas economas.
Finalmente, utilizamos informacin de corte transversal de la CASEN 2003
5 Caballero et al. (2004) desarrollan un modelo AK con heterogeneidad de
plantas para estimar el impacto de las rigideces laborales en el crecimiento de la productividad. Como los mismos autores lo indican, sta es una estimacin muy gruesa del
verdadero impacto de la regulacin laboral en la productividad.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
185
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
para explorar
de los hogares
chilenos itself
para sustituir
la prdida
government
during la
thecapacidad
1990s. Moreover,
the coalition
was initially
de
ingresos
que
origina
el
desempleo
del
jefe
de
hogar.
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Un marco
paraIndiscutir
losthe
efectos
de una cada
del ingreso
mightV.1.
naturally
weaken.
addition,
Concertacin,
and even
its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
Hay dos lneas de literatura econmica que se mezclan a la hora de
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
estudiar los efectos del desempleo en el consumo (y bienestar) de las famicontrol. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
lias. Por un lado, la literatura de la permanent income hypothesis (PIH) enfapresidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
tiza la capacidad de las familias de utilizar el sistema financiero para suavizar
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
cambios transitorios en su ingreso. En este marco, el consumo y bienestar
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
de la familia slo cambia por fluctuaciones en el ingreso permanente6.
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
Por otra parte, la hiptesis de full consumption insurance enfatiza la
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
existencia de mecanismos de seguro que permiten diversificar el componenparliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
te de riesgo idiosincrsico del ingreso de las familias en una economa. Si se
general
disillusionment
that la
goes
holding the del
reinsconsumo
of power
so hogar
cumple
esta hiptesis,
tasawith
de crecimiento
de for
cada
long. One
conclude,
that the coalition
is simply
readyytonoexpire.
slo might
depender
de lasthen,
variaciones
en el ingreso
agregado,
de las variaAny
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
couldesto
indeed
ciones en el ingreso individual de cada familia. En concreto,
implica la
undermine
the de
Concertacin,
we dodenot
regard
these factors
as
existencia
transferenciasbut
(o pagos
seguro)
negativamente
correlacionecessarily
devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
nadas con el ingreso del hogar.
In the first place,
the caer
Chilean
come
through
five years
Cunto
el economy
consumo has
de un
hogar
cuyothe
jefelast
pierde
su empleo
in far depender
better shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
entonces de: i) la existencia de mecanismos de segurosand
que suemployment
and growth
figures
rebounded
first months
2003. de
The
plan el ingreso
del jefe
de hogar,
y ii) laincapacidad
de laoffamilia
separar
Concertacin
may en
well
be in a transitorio
position in de
2005
claim credit
for good reculos cambios
el ingreso
los to
cambios
en su consumo
economic
stewardship.
Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonrriendo
al sistema financiero.
democratic Los
legacy
of the mecanismos
Pinochet era
thecuales
renowned
principales
de including
seguro con los
cuentan las
familias son: las transferencias estatales, transferencias desde individuos
fuera del hogar (familiares u otros) y el autoseguro. En este ltimo caso, la
principal variable de ajuste es la participacin laboral de otros miembros de
la familia. Por su parte, la capacidad de la familia de suavizar su consumo
intertemporalmente depender de su acceso al sistema financiero, y, en la
medida de que este acceso sea limitado, del stock de activos lquidos al que
pueda recurrir en periodos de desempleo.
V.2. Evidencia emprica para pases desarrollados
Hay una serie de estudios que evalan la permanent income hypothesis y la full consumption insurance hypothesis con datos microeconmicos (a nivel de familia o individuo) para pases desarrollados (en especial
Estados Unidos).
6 Incluso si se cumple el PIH, la existencia de un seguro que reduzca las variaciones en el Yp llevara a un mayor nivel de bienestar.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with186
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
evaluar
permanent
incomethe
hypothesis
literatura
estima
governmentPara
during
the la1990s.
Moreover,
coalitionlaitself
was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
YP(it)the
+ compelling
YT(it) + (it)
1980s, so C(it)=
as time passes,
force of that initial motivation (1)
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
donde
YT(it)
es unathe
medida
del cambio
en ingreso
del hogar i
parties
most
notably
Christian
Democrats
are transitorio
internally divided
el periodo
t ysuch
YP(it)es
medida
el ingreso
overensocial
issues,
as theuna
legal
statusdel
ofcambio
divorceenand
access permanente
to birth
del hogar.
de los
estudiosthe
recientes
(ver Browning
y Lussardi,
control.
Finally,Muchos
by the 2005
elections,
Concertacin
will have held
the
1996, para
resumen)
positivo
y significativo
presidency
and un
a majority
in encuentran
the Chamberunofcoeficiente
Deputies (the
legislative
house
para by
, evidencia
de que
desviaciones
del patrn of
de multiparty
consumo reselected
popular vote)
forexisten
16 years.
By the standards
pecto a anywhere,
lo predicho much
por la less
permanent
la full concoalitions
amongincome
Latin hypothesis.
Americas Para
presidential
sumption
insurance hypothesis
la mayora
los scars
estudios
estima
systems,
the Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearingdethe
of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
rights
from
five of+the
C(it)
= (t)
+ Y(it)
(it)coalitions deputies in 2002, and the (2)
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long.donde
One might
then,enthat
the coalition
simply
to expire.
C(it)conclude,
es el cambio
el consumo
del is
hogar
i enready
el periodo
t, Y(it)
Any
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
could
es el cambio en el ingreso total y (t) son dummies de periodo. indeed
Todos los
undermine
we doy not
regard1981;
theseCochrane,
factors as
estudios the
paraConcertacin,
Estados Unidosbut
(Burgess
Kingston,
1991;
necessarily
devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
Gruber, 1997) que consideran explcitamente la potencial endogeneidad de
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
Y (it), y lo abordan con estimadores de variables instrumentales, encuenin far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
tran un significativamente mayor que cero y por lo tanto evidencia en
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
contra de la hiptesis de la full consumption insurance.
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
Un tercer conjunto de estudios permite separar los mecanismos
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonintertemporales de los interpersonales de una manera ms explcita. Para
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
hacerlo, se concentran en cambios en el consumo del hogar (y los otros
componentes de ingreso del hogar) ante cambios en el ingreso del jefe de
hogar. Esta metodologa permite analizar tanto la respuesta de fuentes alternativas de ingreso tales como ingresos laborales de los otros miembros
del hogar o transferencias fiscales a una cada en los ingresos del jefe
como la respuesta del consumo y ahorro a cambios en el ingreso del jefe de
hogar. Dynarski y Gruber (1997) realizan este ejercicio para Estados Unidos,
encontrando que una cada de un dlar en el ingreso del jefe de hogar
(producto del desempleo) resulta en una cada en el consumo total de 10
centavos y en un aumento de cerca 50 centavos en los otros ingresos
(incluyendo transferencias) que percibe el hogar, incluyendo transferencias.
Tomados en conjunto, los resultados para consumo y otros ingresos implican un cambio de 40 centavos en el stock neto de activos de la familia por
cada dlar que cae el ingreso del jefe de hogar incluyendo transferencias.
Esto indica que para Estados Unidos la sustitucin intertemporal (cambios

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
187
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
en el stock
los1990s.
activosMoreover,
del hogar)they coalition
la respuesta
otras
fuentes de
government
duringdethe
itselfdewas
initially
ingresoaround
son igual
de importantes
a la hora regime
de suavizar
el consumo
del hogalvanized
opposition
to the Pinochet
of the
1970s and
gar.
Dynarski
y
Gruber
tambin
encuentran
que
el
seguro
de
desempleo
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
un rol
importante
en estabilizar
el ingreso and
familiar.
Decomponent
los 50 centavos
mightjuega
naturally
weaken.
In addition,
the Concertacin,
even its
aumento
en otros
corresponden
pagos por divided
el seguro de
partiesdemost
notably
the ingresos,
Christian22
Democrats
area internally
desempleo.
ingreso
de legal
otros status
miembros
del hogar,
en cambio,
no vara
over social
issues,Elsuch
as the
of divorce
and access
to birth
significativamente
ante
el
desempleo
del
jefe
de
hogar.
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
Otro
resultadoin importante
al of
que
llegan (the
Dynarski
y Gruber
presidency and
a majority
the Chamber
Deputies
legislative
housees que
electedpara
by familias
popular con
vote)
for 16niveles
years. de
Bycapital
the standards
of multiparty
menores
fsico o capital
humano, las
coalitions
less del
among
Latin del
Americas
presidential
cadasanywhere,
de consumomuch
producto
desempleo
jefe de hogar
son significasystems,
the Concertacin
is las
geriatric,
bearing the
of miscellaneous
tivamente
mayores que
experimentadas
porscars
aquellas
familias con altos
corruption
niveles charges
de capital.against members, including the stripping of
parliamentaryEnrights
from en
five
of the Unidos
coalitions
deputies
2002,
andimportante
the
resumen:
Estados
no se
observainuna
cada
general
disillusionment
that
goes
with
holding
the
reins
of
power
for
del consumo de las familias cuando cae el ingreso del jefe de hogar.so
Esto se
long. One
that the de
coalition
is simplyyready
to expire.de recudebemight
a dosconclude,
factores: then,
la respuesta
otros ingresos
la capacidad
Any
of these(oforces,
or somepara
combination
of them,
indeed
rrir
a ahorros
endeudarse)
paliar la brecha
de could
ingresos
temporal.
undermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as Chile
Cualquier discusin de la relacin entre desempleo y consumo en
necessarily
devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
deber considerar ambos aspectos. Nuestra hiptesis es que ambos mecaIn the nismos
first place,
themenos
Chilean
economy has
thealast
five mayores
years de
estn
desarrollados
encome
Chile,through
llevando
cadas
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
consumo ante la prdida de empleo.
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
No obstante lo anterior, cabe la posibilidad de que en Chile sean ms
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
comunes mecanismos de seguro alternativos. De hecho un estudio reciente
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonpara Europa y Estados Unidos (Bentonila e Ichino, 2004) enfatiza cmo los
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
sistemas de seguro interpersonal informales pueden paliar la ausencia de
mecanismos de seguro o suavizar intertemporalmente el consumo formal.
Bentonila e Ichino realizan un ejercicio muy similar al de Dynarski y Gruber
para cuatro pases desarrollados: Estados Unidos, Gran Bretaa, Espaa e
Italia. Ellos encuentran respuestas similares del consumo del hogar ante el
desempleo del jefe del hogar en los cuatros pases, a pesar de diferencias
sustanciales en los mecanismos formales de seguro de desempleo y el grado de desarrollo financiero de los pases. Su explicacin se relaciona con las
transferencias no estatales. Ellos argumentan que en pases donde el sistema financiero es menos sofisticado y las transferencias estatales menores,
las transferencias al interior de las familias son mayores. Para entender el
impacto del desempleo en el ingreso y consumo totales del hogar se hace
importante, entonces, tomar en consideracin no slo la respuesta de transferencias fiscales al desempleo sino que tambin de transferencias privadas
y los ingresos laborales de otros miembros del hogar.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with188
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
V.3. Ingresos
y desempleo
Chile
government
during
the 1990s.enMoreover,
the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
disponibilidad
datos es unaforce
limitante
importante
a la hora de
1980s, so La
as time
passes, thedecompelling
of that
initial motivation
analizar
el
efecto
de
la
prdida
de
empleo
del
jefe
de
hogar
en
el
consumo de
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
las
familias.
En
concreto:
en
Chile
no
tenemos
una
encuesta
de
panel con
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
datos
de
consumo
que
permita
analizar
cmo
los
cambios
en
el
estatus
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth de
empleo
se traducen
en cambios
el Concertacin
nivel de consumo.
La held
alternativa,
control.
Finally,
by the 2005
elections,enthe
will have
the
entonces,
es
explotar
las
diferencias
en
un
corte
transversal
de
hogares
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative housepara
entender
cmo el vote)
ingreso
responde
perdida de
del jefe
elected
by popular
fordel16hogar
years.
By thea la
standards
of empleo
multiparty
de
hogar.
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
Componentes
del ingreso
totalincluding the stripping of
corruption
charges
againstmonetario
members,
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
Comenzamos that
nuestro
con unathediscusin
la importancia
general disillusionment
goesanlisis
with holding
reins of de
power
for so
relativa
de
los
distintos
componentes
de
ingreso
en
el
ingreso
total
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.de las
familias
porthese
quintil
de ingreso
permanente,
separando
entre
familias
donde
Any of
forces,
or some
combination
of them,
could
indeed
el jefe dethe
hogar
est o no empleado.
undermine
Concertacin,
but we do not regard these factors as
2003 y
muestra
proviene
de lasurvival
encuestafordeahogares
necessarilyNuestra
devastating
to the
coalitions
number CASEN
of reasons.
se
limita
a
los
hogares
urbanos,
donde
el/la
jefe/a
de
hogar
tiene
entre
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years18 y
65 better
aos, yshape
es asalariado/a
construir
los quintiles
in far
than that oofest
anydesempleado/a.
of its SouthernPara
Cone
neighbors,
and
de ingresoand
permanente
usamosrebounded
el valor predicho
una regresin
entre el
employment
growth figures
in first por
months
of 2003. The
ingreso permay
cpita
delbehogar
una serie
variables
quecredit
afecten
reflejen
Concertacin
well
in a yposition
in de
2005
to claim
forogood
su ingreso
permanente.
Entre
stasofdestacan
el nivel
educacional
la expeeconomic
stewardship.
Next,
many
the issues
surrounding
they nonriencia laboral
de of
los the
mayores
de edad
el hogar, as como
el nmero de
democratic
legacy
Pinochet
eraen including
the renowned
habitaciones, tenencia de computadores, televisores, entre otros.
En la Tabla N 6, desagregamos las distintas fuentes de ingreso de
los hogares de la CASEN 2003. Las categoras que incluye la tabla son: i)
ingreso laboral principal de otros miembros del hogar, ii) el ingreso laboral
principal del jefe de hogar, iii) las transferencias privadas (donaciones y
pensiones alimenticias) y iv) pagos por seguro de desempleo o ingresos de
periodos anteriores. Esta ltima categora incluye a las indemnizaciones por
aos de servicio7.
Hay varios hechos que vale la pena resaltar de esta tabla. Entre los
hogares donde el jefe de hogar est empleado hay notables similitudes en la
importancia de los diferentes componentes de ingreso entre los quintiles de
ingreso permanente. Para todos los quintiles el ingreso principal del jefe de
hogar constituye cerca de un 60% del ingreso total, mientras que el ingreso
7 No es posible obtener el monto exacto de indemnizaciones por cuanto son
slo una parte de un tem agregado de ingresos en la encuesta.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
189
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
TABLA N 6:
COMPOSICIN DEL INGRESO FAMILIAR POR QUINTIL DE INGRESO PERgovernment during the
1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
MANENTE
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Quintil
Fraccin del ingreso observado
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
Sin empleo are internally
Empleado
parties most notably the Christian Democrats
divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
1 Finally,
Ingreso
otros elections, the Concertacin
45,8
21,3
control.
byprinc.
the 2005
will have
held the
Ingreso princ. jefe
62,8
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative
house
Transf. privadas
7,8
1,2
elected by popular
vote)
for
16
years.
By
the
standards
of
multiparty
Indemnizaciones seg. sub. des.
3,7
0,7
2
Ingreso princ.much
otros less among Latin
48,3 Americas presidential
22,1
coalitions
anywhere,
princ. jefe
62,7
systems, the Ingreso
Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing9,9
the scars of miscellaneous
Transf. Privadas
1,1
corruption Indemnizaciones
charges against
including
the stripping
of
seg. sub.members,
des.
2,3
0,7
3
Ingreso
44,6deputies in 2002,
22,5
parliamentary
rightsprinc.
fromotros
five of the coalitions
and the
Ingreso princ. jefe
62,5
general disillusionment
that goes with holding
Transf. privadas
11,8the reins of power
1,3 for so
long. One might
conclude, seg.
then,
that
expire.
Indemnizaciones
sub.
des.the coalition
2,8is simply ready to0,6
4 Any of
Ingreso
otros or some combination
41,6 of them, could
23,0indeed
theseprinc.
forces,
Ingreso princ. jefe
62,2
undermine the
Concertacin,
but we do not
as
Transf.
privadas
13,3 regard these factors
1,7
Indemnizaciones
des.
3,1 for a number of0,5
necessarily devastating
to seg.
the sub.
coalitions
survival
reasons.
Ingresothe
princ.
otros economy has come
32,9through the last 18,4
In the5first place,
Chilean
five years
Ingreso princ. jefe
65,5
in far better Transf.
shape privadas
than that of any of its Southern
Cone
neighbors,
22,6
2,4 and
seg. sub. des.
0,5 The
employment Indemnizaciones
and growth figures
rebounded in1,8
first months of 2003.
Total Ingreso princ. otros
42,1
Concertacin
may well be in a position in 2005
to claim credit21,3
for good
Ingreso princ. jefe
63,3
economic stewardship.
Next, many of the issues
surrounding 1,6
the nonTransf. privadas
13,6
des.
2,7
0,6
democratic Indemnizacin
legacy of seg.
thesub.Pinochet
era including
the renowned
Fuente: Elaboracin propia en base a encuesta CASEN.

principal de los otros miembros del hogar constituye cerca del 20% del
ingreso total. Los pagos que reciben los hogares por trabajos anteriores,
indemnizaciones y por concepto del seguro de cesanta llegan a menos del
1% de sus ingresos totales en todos los quintiles, mientras que las transferencias privadas oscilan entre un 2,4 o 1,1%.
Para los hogares donde el jefe de hogar no est empleado, la importancia de los distintos componentes de ingreso vara de quintil en quintil.
Para los quintiles 1-3 el ingreso principal de los otros miembros del hogar
corresponde al menos a un 44% del ingreso total. Esta fraccin es menor en
los quintiles de ms alto ingreso, especialmente en el quinto quintil (33%).
La importancia de los pagos por el subsidio de desempleo y pagos por
trabajos anteriores tambin cae conforme subimos de quintil. Sin embargo,

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with190
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
incluso enduring
el primer
quintil Moreover,
estos pagosthe
constituyen
muy baja
government
the 1990s.
coalition una
itselffraccin
was initially
del
ingreso
total.
Finalmente,
la
tabla
muestra
que
las
transferencias
privagalvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
das so
juegan
un rol
importante
en el ingreso
de of
lasthat
familias
empleadas,
1980s,
as time
passes,
the compelling
force
initial no
motivation
en
especial
en
los
quintiles
altos.
En
el
quinto
quintil,
por
ejemplo,
las transmight naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
ferencias
privadas
constituyen
cerca
de
un
cuarto
del
ingreso
total.
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Respuesta
delbyingreso
al desempleo
del Concertacin
jefe de hogar will have held the
control.
Finally,
the 2005
elections, the
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
esta seccin
en ms
cmo laofsituacin
de emelected byEn
popular
vote) analizamos
for 16 years.
By detalle
the standards
multiparty
pleo delanywhere,
jefe de hogar
afecta
a los
componentes
del ingresopresidential
monetario descoalitions
much
less
among
Latin Americas
critos the
arriba.
Nuestra metodologa
la siguiente
systems,
Concertacin
is geriatric,emprica
bearing consiste
the scarsenofestimar
miscellaneous
2003the
descrita
en la seccin
ecuacin charges
en la muestra
de hogares
de la CASEN
corruption
against
members,
including
stripping
of
anterior: rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
parliamentary
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
Y(i) =conclude,
+ e(i) +then,
X(i)that
+ (i)
long. One might
the coalition is simply ready to expire. (3)
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
donde Y(i)
al logaritmo
familiar
totalfactors
o la fraccin
undermine
thecorresponde
Concertacin,
but we del
do ingreso
not regard
these
as
de los componentes
delthe
ingreso
en el ingreso
es una
necessarily
devastating to
coalitions
survivaltotal
for ya e(i)
number
of dummy
reasons.para
aquellos
hogares
donde eleconomy
jefe de hogar
est through
trabajando.
El vector
de conIn the
first place,
the Chilean
has come
the last
five years
troles
X(i)shape
incluye
dummies
regin,
promedioCone
de la experiencia
y expein far
better
than
that ofpor
any
of itselSouthern
neighbors, and
riencia al and
cuadrado
defigures
los restantes
miembros
delmonths
hogar, yofel2003.
promedio
employment
growth
rebounded
in first
The de
los aos demay
escolaridad
y aos
de escolaridad
al claim
cuadrado
de for
los good
restantes
Concertacin
well be in
a position
in 2005 to
credit
miembros
del hogar. Estimamos
parasurrounding
la muestra de
economic
stewardship.
Next, manyesta
of ecuacin
the issues
thehogares
non- en
zonas urbanas
donde
es era
asalariado
o est sinthe
empleo.
Con ello
democratic
legacy
of el
thetrabajador
Pinochet
including
renowned
dejamos fuera de la muestra a trabajadores independientes y a familias rurales, por cuanto el concepto de empleo/no empleo es ms tenue en este
grupo.
La Tabla N 7 reporta las estimaciones del parmetro para dos
muestras. La muestra del panel A incluye a las familias donde el jefe de
hogar est empleado o ha estado buscando trabajo por no ms de 12 semanas. El panel B incluye a todos los hogares de la muestra. La primera columna reporta el efecto de empleo del jefe de hogar sobre los ingresos totales
de la familia. La falta de empleo del jefe de hogar reduce el ingreso per cpita
en aproximadamente un 50%. El mayor valor obtenido en el panel A indica
que el efecto sobre el ingreso de los hogares donde la falta de empleo es
ms reciente es mayor, lo que sugiere que la respuesta de algunos de los
ingresos alternativos no es inmediata.
Las restantes columnas reportan el impacto del empleo del jefe de
hogar sobre la fraccin de las otras fuentes de ingreso en el ingreso total
del hogar. Como es de esperar, el coeficiente estimado para es negativo, y

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
191
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
TABLA N 7:
EFECTO DEL DESEMPLEO DEL JEFE DE HOGAR EN EL INGRESO
government during the
1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
FAMILIAR
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Ingreso total
% del ingreso total
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
hogar (log) Ingresos otros Transferencias
Pagos por
parties most notably the Christian
Democratsprivadas
are internally
divided
miembros
desempleo
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
Panel A: Muestra de asalariados y buscando trabajo en las ltimas 12 semanas
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
0.653
-0.174
-0.116
-0.071
electedEmpleado
by popular vote)
for 16 years.
By the standards
of multiparty
(0.017)***
(0.008)***
(0.003)***
(0.002)***
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
N
16.495
16.872
16.872
16.872
systems,
is geriatric, 0.14
bearing the scars
R2 the Concertacin
0.55
0.09 of miscellaneous
0.06
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
Panel B: Muestra de asalariados y buscando trabajo
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
0.476goes with
-0.215
-0.023
generalEmpleado
disillusionment that
holding the -0.126
reins of power
for so
(0.010)***
(0.005)***
(0.003)***
(0.001)***
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
N
19.905
20.365
20.365
20.365
Any of these forces,
of0.13
them, could0.02
indeed
R2
0.53 or some combination
0.19
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
Nota: Errores estndar entre parntesis. Todas las regresiones controlan por
In the regin,
first place,
Chilean
economy
has come
throughenthe
last five
years
bienesthe
durables
y nivel
educacional
y experiencia
el hogar.
* significativo
al
in far 10%;
better** shape
than althat
any
of its Southern
significativo
5%;of***
significativo
al 1%. Cone neighbors, and
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Concertacin
may well
a position
to claim
good los
significativo
para be
las in
otras
fuentes inde2005
ingreso.
Para credit
poder for
interpretar
economic
stewardship.
Next,Nmany
of the issues
the las
nonresultados,
en la Figura
2 se combinan
estos surrounding
coeficientes con
fracciodemocratic
legacy que
of reportamos
the Pinochet
including
the muestra
renowned
nes de ingreso
en laera
Tabla
N 6. La figura
el nivel y
composicin del ingreso del hogar para los empleados (primera columna,
normalizado a 100) y luego utiliza los resultados de las columnas (1) a (4) de
la Tabla N 7 para calcular el nivel y composicin de ingreso de la familia
cuando el jefe de hogar no est empleado. Cabe notar que, a diferencia de la
Tabla N 6, aqu estamos controlando por una serie de otras caractersticas
de los hogares adems del estado de empleo del jefe de hogar.
Ante el no empleo del jefe de hogar el ingreso de otros miembros del
hogar aumenta slo en la muestra que incluye a los jefes de hogar que han
estado sin empleo ms de 12 semanas. Como mencionamos arriba, esto
sugiere que la respuesta de la oferta laboral no es inmediata. Como muestra
la figura, en esta muestra el ingreso principal de otros miembros del hogar
sube de 21,3% a 26,6%. Tambin se observan aumentos en las transferencias privadas, en especial en la muestra completa. El tercer componente de
ingreso que muestra la figura son los pagos por desempleo. Como era de
esperar por el diseo del seguro de desempleo y las indemnizaciones,
el efecto es mayor en los hogares donde el no empleo del jefe de hogar es

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with192
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
FIGURA N 2:
EFECTO DEL DESEMPLEO DEL JEFE DE HOGAR EN EL INGRESO
government duringFAMILIAR
the 1990s.
Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
(%)
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
120,0
might naturally
weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
Asalariado
over social
100,0 issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
presidency
80,0 and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards
of multiparty
Sin empleo
coalitions
anywhere,
much
less
among
Latin
Americas
presidential
60,0
Sin empleo (t<12)
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption
charges against members, including the stripping of
40,0
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
20.0
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
0,0
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
Sin empleo
In the first place, the Chilean economy
has come(t<12)
throughSinthe
last five years
Asalariado
empleo
21,3
20,1 Cone26,6
Ing. princ.
in far better shape than
thatotros
of any of
its Southern
neighbors, and
1,6
6,9
8,8
Transf. privadas
employment and growth
in first
0,6
4,0 months
1,8of 2003. The
Ind. seg.figures
sub. des. rebounded
13,2in 2005
21,1
Otros be in a position
Concertacin may well
to claim24.9
credit for good
63,3
0,0
0,0
Ing. princ. jefe
economic stewardship.
Next,
of the issues
the non52,0 surrounding
62,1
Ingreso
total many 100,0
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
Ing. princ. jefe

Otros

Ind. seg. sub. des.

Transf. privadas

Ing. princ. otros

reciente. Para estos hogares esta categora sube de 0,6 a 4%, llegando a ser
un 7% del ingreso de los hogares donde el jefe de hogar no tiene empleo.
Cmo se comparan estos resultados con los obtenidos por Dynarski y Gruber para Estados Unidos? Respecto al rol que juegan las transferencias por desempleo, recordemos que por cada 100 pesos de cada de ingreso
del jefe de hogar en Estados Unidos dichas transferencias suban 22 pesos. El
mismo clculo para Chile da aproximadamente 4 pesos para los hogares
donde el jefe de hogar ha estado sin empleo menos de 12 semanas. Tambin
podemos hacer un clculo aproximado de la cada de consumo que generara la prdida de empleo. Suponiendo que la capacidad de sustitucin intertemporal en Chile es similar a la de Estados Unidos (40% de la cada de
ingreso de la familia), la cada del ingreso en Chile reportada aqu implicara
una cada de consumo cercana al 30%. Los resultados para familias de me-

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
193
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
nor nivel
educacional
o menor
riqueza
Estados Unidos
sugieren
que sta
government
during
the 1990s.
Moreover,
theencoalition
itself was
initially
es
la
cota
inferior
para
la
cada
de
consumo.
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
Tabla
N 8 the
analiza
el efectoforce
del desempleo
sobre
el empleo y la
1980s, so asLa
time
passes,
compelling
of that initial
motivation
escolaridad
de
los
otros
miembros
del
hogar.
En
el
panel
A
reportamos
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component los
para la muestra
que incluye
a los empleados
y los no
empleados
partiesresultados
most notably
the Christian
Democrats
are internally
divided
de
menos
de
12
semanas,
el
panel
B
reporta
la
muestra
completa
y
el panel C
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
reporta
la muestra
completa,
pero the
permitiendo
que el
efecto
empleo
control.
Finally,
by the 2005
elections,
Concertacin
will
havedel
held
the del
jefe
de
hogar
vare
por
quintil
de
ingreso
permanente.
Las
variables
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative housedepenelected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
TABLAanywhere,
N 8:
EFECTO
DESEMPLEO
JEFEAmericas
DE HOGAR EN
LA PARTICIPACIN
coalitions
muchDEL
less
among DEL
Latin
presidential
LABORAL
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
Fraccin
de lacoalitions
poblacin total
en cada grupo
de edad
parliamentary rights from five
of the
deputies
in 2002,
and the
general disillusionment
goes Emp.
with 18-25
holding the
reins
for so
Emp.that
15-17
Emp.
26+ of power
Edu. 18-25
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
AnyPanel
of these
forces,
or some ycombination
of enthem,
could12indeed
A: Muestra
de asalariados
buscando trabajo
los ltimas
semanas
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
Empleado
-0.001
0.025
necessarily
devastating to
the coalitions
survival for-0.056
a number of 0.022
reasons.
(0.013)
(0.022)
(0.017)***
(0.020)
In the Nfirst place, the Chilean
has come through
years
3. 856 economy6.293
13. 633the last five
6.293
0.0488
0.2319and
in far R2
better shape than0.0336
that of any of
its Southern0.0518
Cone neighbors,
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Panel B: Muestra de asalariados y buscando trabajo
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
Empleado
0.021noneconomic
stewardship. 0.001
Next, many -0.004
of the issues -0.167
surrounding the
(0.008)
(0.013)
(0.010)***
(0.012)*
democratic
legacy of 4.the
Pinochet7.599
era including
the renowned
N
573
16. 076
7.599
R2

0.0334

0.0471

0.0592

0.2349

Panel C: Muestra de asalariados y buscando trabajo por quintiles


Empleado Q1
Empleado Q2
Empleado Q3
Empleado Q4
Empleado Q5
N
R2

-0.003
(0.011)
-0.010
(0.009)
0.004
(0.010)
0.001
(0.012)
0.045
(0.016)***
4. 573
0.0364

-0.040
(0.022)*
-0.031
(0.018)*
0.018
(0.017)
0.041
(0.018)**
-0.012
(0.024)
7.599
0.0498

-0.176
(0.016)***
-0.178
(0.013)***
-0.160
(0.012)***
-0.169
(0.013)***
-0.148
(0.017)***
16. 076
0.0594

0.058
(0.020)***
0.027
(0.016)*
0.007
(0.016)
0.006
(0.016)
0.005
(0.021)
7.599
0.2356

Nota: Errores estndar entre parntesis. Todas las regresiones controlan por
regin, bienes durables y nivel educacional y experiencia en el hogar. * significativo al
10%; ** significativo al 5%; *** significativo al 1%.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with194
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
dientes en
sta the
son 1990s.
el empleo
o escolaridad
como itself
fraccin
total de
government
during
Moreover,
the coalition
was del
initially
individuos
del
hogar
en
cada
grupo
de
edad.
Es
as
como
la
primera
columgalvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
na tiene
la tasa
de empleo
familiares
de entre
1980s,
so ascomo
timevariable
passes, dependiente
the compelling
force
of that de
initial
motivation
15
y
17
aos,
la
segunda
columna
la
tasa
de
empleo
de
familiares
de
entre
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component 18
y 25most
y la tercera
columna
la tasa de empleo
de familiares
mayoresdivided
de 25. Los
parties
notably
the Christian
Democrats
are internally
coeficientes
reportados
muestran
que
el
efecto
de
empleo
del
jefe
hogar
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to de
birth
se
concentra
en
los
trabajadores
mayores
de
25.
Para
ninguno
de
los
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held theotros
grupos and
de edad
encontramos
un efecto
significativo
esta variable.
presidency
a majority
in the Chamber
of Deputies
(the de
legislative
house En
lnea
con
los
resultados
de
ingreso,
encontramos
un
coeficiente
mayor
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty (en
valor absoluto)
paramuch
la muestra
(queLatin
incluye
a jefes depresidential
hogar con ms
coalitions
anywhere,
less total
among
Americas
de 12 the
semanas
de sin empleo).
systems,
Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
A
pesar
de que
la falta
de empleoincluding
del jefe del
slo afecta
corruption charges
against
members,
thehogar
stripping
of el
empleo
de
los
familiares
mayores
de
25
tiene
efectos
en
la
participacin
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
escolar
de los jvenesthat
de goes
entre with
18 y 25
aos en
muestra
ampliafor
de so
hogageneral
disillusionment
holding
thelareins
of power
Reportamos
este ltimo
resultado
en laiscuarta
En hogares
long.res.
One
might conclude,
then, that
the coalition
simplycolumna.
ready to expire.
donde
el
jefe
del
hogar
no
est
trabajando,
la
tasa
de
participacin
escolar
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
de
est
grupo
de
edad
es
2
puntos
porcentuales
menor
que
en
los
hogares
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
donde eldevastating
jefe de hogar
empleo.survival
Este resultado
indica of
quereasons.
uno de los
necessarily
to no
thetiene
coalitions
for a number
costos
del
desempleo
en
Chile
es
la
cada
en
la
inversin
en
capital
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five el
years
humano
los jvenes
en el
de las neighbors,
columnas (2)
in far
betterde
shape
than that
of hogar.
any ofLos
its resultados
Southern Cone
andy (4)
sugieren
adems
que
parte
de
estos
jvenes
sale
del
sistema
educacional
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
pero no encuentra
empleo.
Concertacin
may well
be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
Varan
estos
resultados
travs
los quintiles
de ingreso?
economic stewardship. Next,
manya of
the de
issues
surrounding
the non-Para
contestar
esta
pregunta,
volvemos
a
estimar
la
ecuacin
3
permitiendo
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned que
el coeficiente vare por quintil de ingreso permanente. Los resultados de
estas nuevas estimaciones se reportan en el panel C. Destaca aqu el hecho
de que la respuesta de empleo y escolaridad para el grupo 18-25 es mayor
para los quintiles de ms bajos ingresos.
VI. Polticas de estabilizacin del ingreso y en el
match entre trabajadores y empleos
La implementacin de un seguro de desempleo no slo tiene un
efecto positivo al reducir la volatilidad del ingreso de los hogares y las
fluctuaciones macroeconmicas, sino tambin, como lo sugieren recientes
estudios tericos, este seguro aumenta la productividad laboral al permitir
que los trabajadores busquen trabajos de mayor productividad y que las
firmas creen este tipo de trabajos. Acemoglu y Shimer (2000) argumentan
que si Estados Unidos redujera la generosidad de su seguro, en principio
para reducir los problemas de riesgo moral que ste produce, su efecto sera

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
195
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
negativo:
aumentara
la volatilidad
ingresos
de was
los trabajadores
y
government
during
the 1990s.
Moreover, de
thelos
coalition
itself
initially
reducira
el
nivel
de
empleo
en
la
economa.
Esto
ltimo
ocurrira
porque
los
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
veranthe
forzados
a reducir
su of
tiempo
bsqueda
de empleo
1980s,trabajadores
so as time se
passes,
compelling
force
that de
initial
motivation
y
por
ende
terminaran
tomando
trabajos
para
los
cuales
no
tienen
las cualimight naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
dades
indicadas
y
donde
terminaran
siendo
menos
productivos.
Dado
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided que
el seguro
de such
desempleo
es actualmente
menos
generoso
over social
issues,
as the chileno
legal status
of divorce and
access
to birthque el
americano,
el
estudio
anterior
sugiere
que
para
el
caso
chileno
un the
aumento
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held
de la generosidad
delinmismo
podra of
tener
un efecto
no house
slo para el
presidency
and a majority
the Chamber
Deputies
(thepositivo
legislative
bienestar
sino
tambin
para
el
nivel
de
empleo.
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
systems, the ConcertacinVII.
is geriatric,
the scars
of miscellaneous
El seguro bearing
de desempleo
chileno
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
parliamentary
rights from five
of the coalitions
deputies in 2002, and the
VII.1. Indemnizaciones
y seguro
de desempleo
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might
conclude,
then,
that
is simply
ready to
En esta
seccin,
a la
luzthe
decoalition
la evidencia
presentada
enexpire.
las secciones
Any
of
these
forces,
or
some
combination
of
them,
could
indeed
anteriores, discutimos la operacin del actual sistema de proteccin
al ingreundermine
the
Concertacin,
but
we
do
not
regard
these
factors
as
so del trabajo en Chile y exploramos posibles modificaciones.
necessarily devastating
to
the
coalitions
survival
for
a
number
of
reasons.
Hemos argumentado hasta ahora que un trabajador promedio en ChiIn the lefirst
place,
economy
come
five yearsya sea
tiene unathe
altaChilean
probabilidad
de has
pasar
por through
periodosthe
delast
desempleo,
in far por
better
shape
than
that
of
any
of
its
Southern
Cone
neighbors,
(i) el proceso de reasignacin continua que genera grandes and
flujos de
employment
figures
rebounded
in shocks
first months
of 2003.
The
empleo and
entregrowth
sectores
y firmas
o (ii) por
agregados
que afectan
la
Concertacin
may
welllabe
in aasitica
position
in 2005
to 90.
claim
for goodde esta
economa,
como
crisis
a fines
de los
La credit
consecuencia
economic
stewardship.
many
the issues
surrounding
thees nonprdida
de empleo,Next,
dado el
actualofsistema
de seguridad
social,
una fuerte
democratic
legacy
of
the
Pinochet
era
including
the
renowned
cada en el ingreso, que, considerando el grado de desarrollo del sistema
financiero chileno, probablemente resulte en una importante cada en el consumo e incluso en algn grado de desercin del sistema educacional. Se
suma a lo anterior el hecho de que la eficiencia del proceso de bsqueda se
ve deteriorada si el trabajador, enfrentado a una cada importante en su
consumo, se ve obligado a tomar un trabajo que se aleja de su ptimo.
No obstante, hemos argumentado tambin que el proceso de reasignacin, responsable en parte de esta inestabilidad, juega un importante rol
en el crecimiento econmico y, por ende, en la tasa a la cual crecern los
salarios en Chile.
Histricamente, las indemnizaciones por aos de servicio han sido el
principal mecanismo de proteccin al empleo en Chile. Una mayor indemnizacin (siempre que la empresa no quiebre y pueda pagarla) aumenta la
estabilidad laboral y transfiere ingreso al trabajador desempleado. Ambos
efectos contribuyen a reducir la varianza del consumo de los hogares. El
costo es un menor crecimiento en la productividad. Como documentamos

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with196
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
en este estudio,
hay 1990s.
evidencia
empricathe
categrica
quewas
mayores
costos
government
during the
Moreover,
coalitionde
itself
initially
de
despido
reducen
la
velocidad
de
ajuste
del
empleo
y
hacen
caer
la
reasiggalvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
nacin
y por
tanto
el crecimiento.
1980s,
so as
time
passes,
the compelling force of that initial motivation
Una
solucin
alternativa
es la
implementacin
de un
sistema de semight naturally weaken. In
addition, the
Concertacin,
and even
its component
guro
de
desempleo.
Definido
de
la
forma
ms
general
posible,
seguro
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally este
divided
cobra
una
prima
a
trabajadores
o
empresas,
y
paga
un
beneficio
predefinido
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
una vez
que elbytrabajador
desempleado.
Lo crucialwill
es que
empresa
control.
Finally,
the 2005 est
elections,
the Concertacin
havela held
the no
paga unand
costo
al momento
despedir
un trabajador,
por lo que
no se
presidency
a majority
in the de
Chamber
of aDeputies
(the legislative
house
distorsiona
el
margen
de
despido
de
la
empresa.
Los
beneficios
de
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multipartyeste
sistema anywhere,
son una cada
en laless
varianza
delLatin
consumo
de los hogares,
sin afeccoalitions
much
among
Americas
presidential
tar el the
proceso
de reasignacin
de empleo
porscars
endeofla miscellaneous
productividad. A
systems,
Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearingythe
diferencia
de
las
indemnizaciones,
la
menor
varianza
en
el
consumo
logra
corruption charges against members, including the strippingseof
por
transferencia
desde
el
seguro
y
no
por
una
menor
reasignacin.
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
Los principales
problemas
de holding
un sistema
seguro
de desempleo
general disillusionment
that
goes with
the de
reins
of power
for so se
por conclude,
riesgo de then,
abusothat
(moral
hazard)isen
la bsqueda
empleo y
long.originan
One might
the coalition
simply
ready tode
expire.
un Any
problema
de
los
comunes
(problem
of
the
commons)
en
la
decisin
of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed de
despedir
a unConcertacin,
trabajador. En elbut
primer
caso,not
el trabajador
tienefactors
menos incenundermine the
we do
regard these
as
tivos
para
buscar
un
nuevo
empleo.
En
el
segundo
caso,
la
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of empresa
reasons. no
internaliza
correctamente
costo que
para el sistema
un todo
In the
first place,
the Chilean el
economy
hasimplica
come through
the last como
five years
la decisin
de despedir
a un
solucionar
problemas
in far
better shape
than that
oftrabajador.
any of its Para
Southern
Cone estos
neighbors,
and los
pases
con
sistemas
de
seguro
de
desempleo
han
introducido
modificacioemployment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
nes al esquema
sencillo
En to
el claim
caso de
moral
Concertacin
may well
be inpropuesto
a positionarriba.
in 2005
credit
forhazard
good se
establecen
mecanismos
de monitoreo
y pagos
contingentes;
se disea
economic
stewardship.
Next,
many of the
issues
surroundingo the
non- un
sistema
de
pagos
decrecientes
en
el
tiempo.
Para
que
la
empresa
internalice
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
el costo social del despido, se le puede poner un impuesto al despido, ya
sea una indemnizacin o una prima creciente en el nmero de despidos.
VII.2. El seguro de desempleo en Chile
Descripcin del sistema
El 1 de octubre de 2002 entr en vigencia el actual seguro de desempleo que reemplaz al modesto subsidio de cesanta vigente antes8. El seguro es obligatorio para todos los trabajadores que firmen un contrato regido
por el Cdigo del Trabajo. En este sistema, cada trabajador dependiente con
contrato indefinido tiene una cuenta individual donde tanto l como su
empleador cotizan mensualmente una fraccin de su remuneracin. Al mo8 Este subsidio equivala a alrededor de US$ 25 mensuales, aunque daba derecho
a prestaciones de salud.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
197
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
mento de
quedar
el trabajador
retirar
los was
recursos
acumulagovernment
during
the cesante,
1990s. Moreover,
thepuede
coalition
itself
initially
dos
en
su
cuenta
individual
ms
los
intereses
obtenidos
y,
de
ser
necesario,
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
a un fondo
(Fondo Solidario),
el cual
estmotivation
constituido con
1980s,recurrir
so as time
passes,comn
the compelling
force of that
initial
aportes
de
los
empleadores
y
del
Estado.
Para
el
caso
de
trabajadores
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component con
aporte del
trabajador corresponde
al divided
0,6% de sus
partiescontrato
most indefinido,
notably theelChristian
Democrats
are internally
ingresos
imponibles
(con
un
tope
de
UF
90),
mientras
que
el
de
empleaover social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access tolos
birth
dores
asciende
al
1,6%
de
los
mismos
ingresos.
Estos
aportes
se
depositan
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
en unaand
cuenta
individual
delChamber
trabajador,
cuyo saldo
al legislative
final de la vida
presidency
a majority
in the
of Deputies
(the
houselaboral
del
individuo
podr
ser
retirado
por
el
trabajador.
Por
otra
parte,
el fondo
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
comn
se
financia
con
un
aporte
del
empleador
equivalente
al
0,8%
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential del
ingreso
disponible de is
susgeriatric,
trabajadores
msthe
un scars
aporteofdelmiscellaneous
Estado de $ 8.000
systems,
the Concertacin
bearing
millones
anuales.
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
un trabajador
concoalitions
contrato indefinido
trabajo
parliamentaryCuando
rights from
five of the
deputies
inpierde
2002,su
and
the por
9, tiene derecho a retirar giros
causa
involuntaria
(despido
no
atribuible
a
l)
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
mensuales
de su cuenta
siempre
y cuando
acreditadas
long. One
might conclude,
then, individual,
that the coalition
is simply
readytenga
to expire.
doce
(12)
o
ms
cotizaciones
en
forma
continua
o
discontinua.
En caso de
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
no
optar
(o
no
tener
derecho)
al
fondo
solidario,
el
trabajador
puede
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors asretirar
el totaldevastating
de su saldotoenthela coalitions
cuenta individual,
mensuales.
Estos giros
necessarily
survivalen
forgiros
a number
of reasons.
sern
decrecientes,
y
el
nmero
de
giros
ser
el
nmero
de
aos
desde su
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
porthan
cesanta
o desde
su its
afiliacin
al sistema.
En caso de
optar al
in far ltimo
better giro
shape
that of
any of
Southern
Cone neighbors,
and
fondo
solidario,
el
trabajador
tendr
derecho
a
cinco
giros.
Estos
giros
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The son
decrecientes
el tiempo.
el primer
mes el
corresponde
al 50% del
Concertacin
may en
well
be in a En
position
in 2005
to giro
claim
credit for good
salario
promedio deNext,
los ltimos
el segundo
a un 45%,
llegando a
economic
stewardship.
many 12
of meses,
the issues
surrounding
the nonslo
un
30%
el
quinto
mes.
En
caso
de
que
los
montos
de
la
cuenta
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renownedindividual del trabajador no alcancen a cubrir estos porcentajes, y ste siga cesante, l puede recurrir al fondo solidario y solicitar pagos con un mnimo
igual a $ 67.292 (55% del salario mnimo vigente) para el primer mes y de $
31.058 para el quinto mes. Los retiros contra el fondo solidario tambin
tienen montos mximos, los cuales corresponden a $ 129.408 (15% del salario mximo imponible) el primer mes y $ 77.645 el quinto.
Es importante notar que en total el beneficio, en caso de acceder al
fondo solidario, es slo de dos meses de salarios, lo cual es bajo inclusive
para pases con bajos beneficios como Estados Unidos (tres meses). Lo
anterior se compensa ya que en el marco chileno el seguro de desempleo se
complementa con las indemnizaciones por aos de servicio. Hoy en da, el
sistema de indemnizaciones por despido establece que ante un despido por
9 Las condiciones del seguro son diferentes para empleados con contratos por
obra o a plazo fijo. Ver pgina web de la Superintendencia de Administradoras de Fondos
de Pensiones.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with198
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
necesidades
de lathe
empresa,
debe compensar
al trabajador
de un
government
during
1990s. sta
Moreover,
the coalition
itself wasa razn
initially
mes
por
ao
de
servicio
hasta
un
tope
de
11
meses.
Al
momento
del
despigalvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
do, el
puede the
descontar
de lasforce
indemnizaciones
lo depositado
1980s,
so empleador
as time passes,
compelling
of that initial
motivation por
l
en
la
cuenta
individual
del
trabajador.
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
conceptual
overDiscusin
social issues,
such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
modelo
chileno
se puede
caracterizar
como
sistema obligatorio
presidencyEl
and
a majority
in the
Chamber
of Deputies
(theunlegislative
house
de
ahorro
forzoso,
al
cual
se
le
sobrepone
un
seguro
dado que los
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standardsque,
of multiparty
retiros del
fondo comn
mximo
y unAmericas
mnimo, tiene
una compocoalitions
anywhere,
muchtienen
less un
among
Latin
presidential
nente the
solidaria
(redistributiva).
systems,
Concertacin
is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
Si
consideramos
que en
el largo plazo
la ofertathe
de trabajo
es inelsticorruption charges against
members,
including
stripping
of
ca,
un
2,2%
del
salario
disponible
se
destina
al
componente
de
ahorro
forzoparliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
pases
donde
mercados
no son
so del
sistema10. En that
general
disillusionment
goes
withlosholding
the financieros
reins of power
forperfecso
tos,
lo
cual
en
mayor
o
menor
medida
incluye
a
todos
los
pases,
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire. este
componente
genera
un colchn
de combination
ahorros que leofpermite
al trabajador
Any of these
forces,
or some
them, could
indeed autoasegurarse
a
travs
del
tiempo.
En
teora
existen
dos
razones
para
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors
as que
esta
componente
deba
ser
obligatoria.
Primero,
estudios
recientes
muestran
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
quefirst
la cada
la Chilean
valoracin
entre consumir
y maana
es five
muyyears
superior
In the
place,enthe
economy
has comehoy
through
the last
a
la
cada
entre
consumir
maana
o
pasado
maana,
lo
que
hace
que
tendain far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
11. Segundo, existe un problema de
mos
a
subahorrar
para
eventos
futuros
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
riesgo de abuso.
Si be
el desempleo
aumenta
los credit
trabajadores
saben
Concertacin
may well
in a position
in 2005mucho
to claim
for good
que el gobierno
tendr
que many
implementar
para paliarthe
susnonefectos
economic
stewardship.
Next,
of the programas
issues surrounding
(subsidios
directos
o
a
travs
de
planes
de
empleo
de
emergencia),
luego
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
deciden subahorrar.
En principio existen mecanismos ms eficientes que el ahorro forzoso
para asegurarse ante eventos fortuitos (como puede ser caer en el desempleo), stos son los seguros que no slo permiten asegurar el ingreso traspasando recursos individuales de un periodo a otro (como lo hace el ahorro
forzoso) sino que tambin permiten traspasar recursos de un individuo a
otro en un momento dado. En el sistema chileno el fondo comn hace el rol
de un seguro. En este contexto, el 0,8% del salario que se destina al fondo
comn se puede pensar como la prima que debe pagar el trabajador para
tener acceso a la componente de seguro que tiene el sistema.
Desgraciadamente los seguros en general, y el de desempleo muy en
particular, presentan problemas de seleccin adversa y de riesgo de abuso.
El primero dice relacin con el hecho de que las personas que tienen una
10 Con una oferta inelstica de trabajo los descuentos los termina pagando en un
100% el trabajador con salarios ms bajos.
11 Este fenmeno se conoce en economa como tasa de descuento hiperblica.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
199
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
mayor during
probabilidad
de quedar
desempleadas
sernitself
quienes
government
the 1990s.
Moreover,
the coalition
wasprimero
initiallytomen
el
seguro.
Esto
lleva
a
un
aumento
en
la
prima
del
seguro
y
por
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970sende
and a que
de bajo
riesgo
estar desempleadas
decidan
no motivation
tomarlo, aumen1980s,personas
so as time
passes,
thedecompelling
force of that
initial
tando
as
aun
ms
la
prima
y
eventualmente
restndole
viabilidad
al sistema.
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
En
el
caso
del
sistema
del
seguro
de
desempleo
este
problema
se
soluciona
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
haciendo
obligatoria
la
participacin.
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Por by
otrathe
parte,
problemathe
de Concertacin
riesgo de abuso
ms held
complicado
y
control. Finally,
2005elelections,
willeshave
the
se refiere
hecho deinque
trabajadores
asegurados
cambian house
su comporpresidency
and aalmajority
the los
Chamber
of Deputies
(the legislative
tamiento,
de
modo
tal
que
son
menos
cuidadosos
en
mantener
su
empleo y
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
ponen
menos
esfuerzo
en
buscar
trabajo
una
vez
cesantes.
En
el
sistema
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
chileno
se busca evitar
problema
a travs
tantoofdemiscellaneous
la componente de
systems,
the Concertacin
is este
geriatric,
bearing
the scars
ahorro
forzoso
(el
cual
es
el
primero
que
se
utiliza
al
quedar
cesante)
corruption charges against members, including the stripping
of como
de
beneficios
inferiores
al
salario
del
trabajador
y
decrecientes
en
el
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and thetiempo
condisillusionment
un lmite.
general
that goes with holding the reins of power for so
En
el
seguro
en the
Chile,
la estructura
deready
beneficios
(giros) que
long. One might conclude,vigente
then, that
coalition
is simply
to expire.
tiene
un
trabajador
cesante
que
accede
al
fondo
comn
genera
una
distribuAny of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
cin
progresiva
de
los
recursos
del
mismo.
sta
es
la
componente
distributiundermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
va deldevastating
sistema chileno.
Pensemos en
dos empleados
queofson
despedidos
necessarily
to the coalitions
survival
for a number
reasons.
despus
de
trabajar
12
meses
(mnimo
para
acceder
al
fondo
solidario).
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years El
A ganaba
el salario
mnimo
120 mil) Cone
y el trabajador
B eland
mximo
in far trabajador
better shape
than that
of any
of its($Southern
neighbors,
imponible
($
1.530).
Con
el
ahorro
forzado
en
sus
cuentas
individuales
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The ninguno de may
ellos well
puedebefinanciarse
el equivalente
dos meses
Concertacin
in a position
in 2005 tode
claim
credit de
forsalarios
good que
otorgastewardship.
el sistema chileno
(cuando
opta
al fondo
solidario),theluego
economic
Next, many
of sethe
issues
surrounding
non-ambos
pueden
acceder
al
fondo
comn.
El
trabajador
A,
por
su
bajo
salario,
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renownedobtiene los giros mnimos establecidos por la ley y en su caso utiliza del fondo
comn el equivalente a 175% de su salario. Por el contrario, el trabajador B
debido a su salario alto recibe el tope superior de los giros y en su caso
slo retira del fondo comn un equivalente a un 7,4% de su sueldo12.
Finalmente, en Chile el sistema de seguridad contra el desempleo
sigue estableciendo el pago de una indemnizacin por despedido, siendo
esta componente muy importante en los beneficios totales. De hecho, para
todos los trabajadores que lleven ms de dos aos trabajando en una empresa las indemnizaciones son el principal componente de los beneficios
que recibiran al quedar cesantes.
El sistema de indemnizaciones se utiliza principalmente en pases en
desarrollo que tienen un bajo nivel de institucionalidad que no les permite
implementar un sistema de seguro ms eficiente pero que a su vez es ms
complejo. El nivel de desarrollo alcanzado por Chile en los ltimos aos
12 Un trabajador con salario igual al mximo imponible despus de trabajar 16
meses no recibe ninguna compensacin del fondo comn.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with200
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
hace natural
que the
el pas
se mueva
de unthe
sistema
basado
en indemnizaciones
government
during
1990s.
Moreover,
coalition
itself
was initially
a otro basado en un esquema de seguro de desempleo. Es importante notar
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
que an en un pas con buenas instituciones las indemnizaciones pueden
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
jugar un rol en un sistema de seguro de desempleo. Con un seguro de
might naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
desempleo (ms all de la componente de ahorro forzoso) las empresas no
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
internalizan todo el costo social que tiene despedir un trabajador, por lo
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
cual se termina con una situacin de exceso de destruccin de empleos. La
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
idea es la siguiente: al despedir a un trabajador el empleador sabe que ste
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
no ver caer su ingreso a cero porque tendr acceso al fondo comn (seguelected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
ro) que la firma ayuda a financiar en conjunto con el resto de las empresas.
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
Para evitar este problema de los comunes, se debe forzar a las firmas a
systems,
Concertacin
is geriatric,
bearing
the scars En
of el
miscellaneous
pagar the
un costo
al momento
de despedir
un trabajador.
caso chileno las
corruption
charges
against
members,
including
the
stripping of
indemnizaciones pueden estar jugando este rol.
parliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
de posibles
long.VII.2.
One Discusin
might conclude,
then, reformas
that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Any of these forces, or some combination of them, could indeed
los niveles de but
desarrollo
Chile,
un sistema
de seguro
undermineDados
the Concertacin,
we dodenot
regard
these factors
as de
desempleo
es la mejor
de darle estabilidad
trabajadonecessarily
devastating
to forma
the coalitions
survival foralaingreso
numberdeoflos
reasons.
resfirst
y permitir
queChilean
stos tengan
un has
ingreso
proceso
In the
place, the
economy
comemnimo
throughdurante
the last su
five
years de
bsqueda
de empleo
forzados
a tomar un
trabajo
para el cual
in far
better shape
than sin
thatverse
of any
of its Southern
Cone
neighbors,
and no
tienen las and
habilidades
ms adecuadas.
El sistema
vigente en
employment
growth figures
rebounded
in first months
of Chile
2003. tiene
The las
caractersticas
tambinin una
de elementos
deben
Concertacin
may deseables
well be inpero
a position
2005serie
to claim
credit forque
good
ser
perfeccionados.
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nondemocratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
1. Las indemnizaciones tienen una importancia mayor que lo ptimo
En el sistema actual las indemnizaciones son el principal componente
del beneficio que recibe un trabajador cesante despus de estar por dos o
ms aos en una empresa. Como documentamos en este estudio, indemnizaciones altas distorsionan el proceso de reasignacin de empleo en la economa reduciendo la productividad y el crecimiento. En el ptimo, las
indemnizaciones slo deberan corregir el problema de los comunes que
presenta un sistema de seguros. Dado lo pequeo que es el componente de
seguro en el sistema chileno (la parte relacionada con el fondo comn), nos
parece que se debera reducir el tamao de las indemnizaciones por aos de
servicio contra un aumento en las cotizaciones a la cuenta individual y al
fondo solidario en el seguro de cesanta13.
13 La alternativa que se utiliza en Estados Unidos son cotizaciones al seguro de
desempleo que varan en funcin del historial de despido de la empresa. Ver Blanchard
(2004) para una discusin.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
201
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
2. Las firmas
tener
una cuenta
ahorro itself
para el
pago
de las
government
during debieran
the 1990s.
Moreover,
the de
coalition
was
initially
indemnizaciones
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
1980s, so as time passes, the compelling force of that initial motivation
Las indemnizaciones no siempre proveen de un seguro a los trabajamight naturally weaken. In addition, the Concertacin, and even its component
dores desempleados, pues su pago depende de la liquidez de la empresa al
parties most notably the Christian Democrats are internally divided
momento de despedir al trabajador. Si la empresa quiebra, no hay garantas
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
de que el trabajador reciba sus indemnizaciones. La importancia del cierre de
control. Finally, by the 2005 elections, the Concertacin will have held the
plantas dentro de la destruccin de empleo (25%) sugiere que este problema
presidency and a majority in the Chamber of Deputies (the legislative house
puede ser considerable en Chile. Este problema no slo perjudica a los
elected by popular vote) for 16 years. By the standards of multiparty
trabajadores sino que distorsiona la decisin de quiebra de las empresas. Es
coalitions anywhere, much less among Latin Americas presidential
por ello que las firmas debieran mantener un fondo donde se provisione el
systems, the Concertacin is geriatric, bearing the scars of miscellaneous
pago de futuras indemnizaciones. Los montos aprovisionados debieran ser
corruption charges against members, including the stripping of
funcin de la obligacin contingente que tiene la firma con sus trabajaparliamentary rights from five of the coalitions deputies in 2002, and the
dores.
general disillusionment that goes with holding the reins of power for so
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
3.Any
El aporte
delforces,
trabajador
a su combination
cuenta individual
debiera
ser indeed
decreciente
of these
or some
of them,
could
con
los
fondos
en
su
cuenta
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
necessarily devastating to the coalitions survival for a number of reasons.
Si consideramos la teora econmica de buffer stocks, sabemos que
In the first place, the Chilean economy has come through the last five years
existe un tamao ptimo del colchn de ahorro que un trabajador debe tener
in far better shape than that of any of its Southern Cone neighbors, and
para suavizar su consumo. Por este motivo, cuando los fondos en su cuenta
employment and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
individual estn por debajo del ptimo, el aporte del trabajador a su cuenta
Concertacin may well be in a position in 2005 to claim credit for good
debiera ser mayor que el exigido cuando los fondos son mayores que el
economic stewardship. Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonptimo. Por ejemplo, el aporte debiera ser una fraccin S del salario del
democratic legacy of the Pinochet era including the renowned
trabajador hasta llegar a un stock de ahorro igual a A veces el salario, luego
de lo cual la tasa de aporte debiera bajar a s<S. El parmetro A se debe
calcular en funcin del colchn ptimo de ahorro que debe tener un trabajador al cual le queda un cierto nmero de aos en la fuerza de trabajo.
4. Debiera haber un aporte del trabajador al fondo comn hasta reponer
una fraccin de lo usado por l anteriormente
En la actualidad el fondo comn les permite a los trabajadores acceder a un seguro a una prima de 0,8% de su salario. Adems de este rol, el
fondo podra ser un mecanismo de prstamos del Estado a los trabajadores
cesantes contra sus ingresos laborales futuros. En concreto, esto permitira
al trabajador retirar un monto adicional del fondo comn. Por este retiro se
generara una deuda del trabajador con el Estado, la cual se pagara con
aportes adicionales obligatorios del trabajador al fondo.

www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
ESTUDIOS PBLICOS
with202
Chiles unusual electoral rules.
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
BIBLIOGRAFA
government during the 1990s. Moreover,
the coalition itself was initially
galvanized around opposition to the Pinochet regime of the 1970s and
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1980s, so En
as European
time passes,
the compelling force of that initial motivation
Economic Review, 44 (7): 1195-1224.
might
naturally
weaken.
In
addition,
Concertacin,
and even
Barnes, M., y J. Haskel (2002): Job the
Creation,
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and its
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are internally
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Small notably
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control.
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2005
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thefrom
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presidential
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www.cepchile.cl

coalitions leaders have issued premature announcements of its death


(Latin America Adviser 2002; El Mercurio 2003a). Some observers of
Chilean politics, therefore, might regard the dissolution of the Concertacin
as both a foregone conclusion and an overdetermined event that is, as the
product of so many factors, all working toward the same end, that it is
impossible to assign responsibility among them. We share the opinion that
the Concertacin may well dissolve before Chiles next election, but not for
the reasons commonly cited. Our argument is based, instead, on the
structure of Chilean political careers, which in turn is connected inextricably
KEVIN unusual
COWAN electoral rules.
203
with Chiles
Harbingers of the Concertacins demise point out that the Chilean
economy has slowed somewhat since the coalitions early years in
Foster, L., J. Haltiwanger y C. Krian (1998): Aggregate Productivity Growth: Lessons
government during
the 1990s. Moreover, the coalition itself was initially
from Microeconomic Evidence. NBER Working Paper 6803.
galvanized
around
opposition
to the Smoothing
Pinochet Effects
regimeofofUnemployment
the 1970s Insurance.
and
Gruber, J. (1997): The Consumption
1980s, so asEn
time
passes,
the compelling
of that initial motivation
American
Economic
Review, 87 force
(1): 192-205.
(1982):InSelection
Evolution of and
Industry.
Encomponent
Econometrica, 50
mightJovanovic,
naturally B.
weaken.
addition,and
thethe
Concertacin,
even its
(3):notably
649-670.the Christian Democrats are internally divided
parties most
Kaplan, D., G. Martnez-Gonzlez, y R. Robertson (2003): Worker- and Job-flows in
over social issues, such as the legal status of divorce and access to birth
Mexico. Instituto Tecnolgico Autnomo de Mxico (ITAM), Instituto
control. Finally,
by the
elections,
the Concertacin
will have
held the
Mexicano
del2005
Seguro
Social (IMSS),
y Macalester College.
Sin publicar.
presidency
andP.,a M.
majority
in the
Chamber
of Deputies
legislative
house
Medina,
Melndez
y K.
Seim (2003):
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Dynamics
in Brazil.
Informe final.
Econnomicas,
Universidade de
elected by popular
vote)Fundao
for 16 Instituto
years. de
ByPesquisas
the standards
of multiparty
So Paulo e Fipe-USP.
coalitions anywhere,
much less among Latin Americas presidential
Menezes-Filho,
N.,
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y E. scars
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goes with
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the reins and
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so
Micco,
A. y C. Pags
Employment
Gross Job
A
Differences
in
Differences
Approach.
Research
Department,
Inter-American
long. One might conclude, then, that the coalition is simply ready to expire.
Development
Bank.or
Working
Number 508.
Any of
these forces,
some Paper
combination
of them, could indeed
Murphy, K. (1999): Executive Compensation. En O. Ashenfelter y David Card (eds.),
undermine the Concertacin, but we do not regard these factors as
Handbook of Labor Economics, Vol. 3. North Holland, 1999.
necessarily
theEconomic
coalitions
survival for
number of reasons.
OECD devastating
(Organisationtofor
Co-operation
and aDevelopment)
(1996). OECD
In the first place,
the Chilean
economy
has come through the last five years
Employment
Outlook.
Paris: OECD.
C. A.than
(2000):
Cambridge, MA
in far Pissarides,
better shape
thatEquilibrium
of any ofUnemployment
its SouthernTheory.
Cone neighbors,
and , MIT
employment Press.
and growth figures rebounded in first months of 2003. The
Reinecke,may
G. ywell
C. Ferrada
Creacin
Destruccin
de Empleo
en Chile:
Concertacin
be in a(2004):
position
in 2005y to
claim credit
for good
Anlisis de Datos Longitudinales de ACHS. Mimeo, ACHT y OIT. En http://
economic stewardship.
Next, many of the issues surrounding the nonwww.oitchile.cl/pdf/publicaciones/ele/elec014.pdf
democratic
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Schumpterer, J. (1942):
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