This article examines the state of the question based on a review of national and international literature on the origin and evolution of the concept of childhood poverty within the framework of quality of life. Similarly, it reviews different approaches to the study of childhood poverty in Colombia, as well as the theoretical perspectives and methodologies used to measure it. The paper concludes with critical-constructive suggestions for the development of future research.

The study of the economy at the present time is influenced by different trends that originated as of the last decade of 20th century. In this respect, the object of analysis is based on clearly differentiated logics that hinder convergence towards a common goal between the teacher and the student. This article is based on an analysis of this relation and the study of the pedagogical practices that are generated around the study of the economy. Based on information from the National Information System for Higher Education (SNIES), it estimated the impact that the level of training, contractual conditions and descriptive aspects of teachers, such as gender and type of institution (public or private), have on the Saber PRO test results as a proxy for the quality of education in Colombia. The results show that, except for the gender of teachers, all variables have a statistically significant impact on the quality of education in Colombia. There is also a review of the literature on this subject and the trends that originate around its study.

Introduction: This article estimates the multidimensional poverty index using a method to obtain weightings associated with the indicators used. Generally in the literature, to calculate this type of compound matters, arbitrary values are assigned to those weightings. This way of operating therefore leaves aside the subjectivities present that could arise in computations when arbitrarily establishing the weights, thus avoiding biases of estimation. Methodology: The methodology used is known as the partial least squares regression in path modeling (plspm). The model estimates the weightings under a system of equations that makes it possible to objectively observe the relative importance of the indicators associated with poverty. Results: The fundamental contribution of this article is that, in contrast to other studies that use multidimensional approaches, it is able to systematically estimate the weightings that each dimension provides in building the poverty indicator. A second contribution from this study is that the weightings are obtained using an innovative methodology that has been little explored in areas of economics. Conclusions: The empirical application of the proposed methodology makes it possible to elucidate the great differences among two Latin American countries. This shows the market contrasts among these two countries despite their location in relatively nearby regions.

La orientación ideológica de los gobiernos, el momento de las elecciones y los intereses particulares de los dirigentes pueden afectar de manera importante la política económica en cualquiera de sus componentes. Se puede esperar que un gobierno establezca sus políticas en materia económica ya sea siguiendo los preceptos ideológicos que el partido político al cual pertenece haya proclamado, o bien puede “manipular” la economía con el único propósito de complacer a su electorado y así mantenerse en el poder. Así, el momento de las elecciones puede marcar el rumbo que tomará la economía de acuerdo con lo que decidan los votantes. Si estos deciden retirar su apoyo al gobernante de turno, se presenta un relevo o cambio en la persona que toma las decisiones en materia económica y, por tanto, hay un re-direccionamiento de la economía, es decir, se presenta lo que se conoce en la literatura como un “ciclo político”. Basado en datos anuales a nivel nacional durante la segunda mitad del siglo XX, la presente investigación pretende buscar la existencia de ciclos políticos oportunistas o partidistas sobre la deuda pública y sus componentes básicos, así como de la base monetaria.