vol. 23 núm. 106 (2015)

Purpose: The alba-tcp is a regional integration initiative promoted by former president Hugo Chávez Frías that introduces the innovation of contemplating a new type of social agenda in its mechanisms and instruments for cooperation. This becomes significant in a world convulsed by the global crisis of 2007-2008 stemming from speculative action by concentrated groups that destabilize economies at the worldwide scale; also, in regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean, where there are divergent visions of regional integration. Description: The article first of all proposes to review social participation in the institutions of the alba-tcp; it then examines mechanisms for insertion of the social and solidarity economy; and finally, it seeks to identify the challenge posed by this new type of social agenda. Point of view: From a descriptive-interpretive perspective, it shows the intellectual tension proposed by this model for integration along with the possibilities that are opened for the social and solidarity economy. Conclusions: The aim is to reflect, based on recognition of a conflictive and open reality conditioned by the territory, regarding the need for joint work by scientists with the peoples.

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.

Purpose: To expound and critically reflect upon the role of the cooperative movement in Mexico during the administration of General Lázaro Cárdenas del Río and his relationship with that movement. Description: The precedents for cooperativism arise starting with the Mexican Revolution and its fundamentally political use around the new regime; an exploratory analysis is presented of the cooperative project under Cardenism. Point of view: The political topic of cooperativism is reexamined as an instrument of hegemony of the new regime and how this had impacts on the workers of cooperativism; also the way in which the possibility of acquiring social leadership and becoming part of the dominant alliance during the developmental stage and in the current period of capitalist restructuring was diluted. Conclusions: The experience of the cooperative movement during Cardenism shows the need to socially and historically contextualize its action to determine its objectives and strategies in each period. Mexican cooperativism during the 1920s and 1930s shows how obtaining immediate advantages and advances can signify an inconvenient commitment in the long run for the autonomy of the cooperative movement, above all, if that development comes to an end.

Introduction: The question of educational conceptions and practices in the solidarity sector of Medellín is an initiative for listening to the voice of the people and organizations who have developed this type of processes. Methodology:This research has a hermeneutic approach aimed at understanding the text (interviews) of key individuals in the social and solidarity economy sector in Medellín. Results: The article is divided into four parts: the first provides context about the solidarity sector in Medellín and the research as such; the second focuses on conceptions of education that arise from analysis of the interviews; the third is based on the solidarity education practices demonstrated by those interviewed, generating a typology of practices, depending upon the approach and the fundamental place (or lack of one) in the solidarity economy sector of Medellín and, finally, the conclusions. Conclusions: There are two ways of seeing education in the solidarity economy sector: first of all, in relation to internalstrengthening of the sector and its educational initiative for its promotion and consolidation; and secondly, in coordination with the social movements and initiatives for transformation of the society.

Purpose: The article is a reflection about the way in which the city, as an unfinished expression of the civilizing process, at least in the West, has favored not only the institutionalization of sociocultural, political and economic forms for the benefit of humanity, but has also caused distress, both because of the selfish nature of human beings and their incessant search for better living conditions. Description: From the position of the citizen-person, it shows the fragility with respect to certain forms of administration of human life, that are used to subjectivize people and thereby reveal the complex and problematic social, subjective and cultural reality of the inhabitants. Point of view: It is from the city as a social space that it is possible to detect the tensions among the different individuals who inhabit it, with respect to socio-spatial demarcations of time and consumption. Conclusions: Human life in the city is simply the dramatization of a civilizing process that, in its time, was full of good intentions. The experience of living in a city is not only rational and economic, but also sensorial and very emotional.

Introduction: In Latin America, micro-finance institutions have been responsible for leveraging small loans to millions of individuals to finance working capital and investments in small machinery. The objective of the work is to show the results that microfinance has on improving indicators for poverty and growth of the economy. Methodology: For the quantitative analysis, data were used on poverty, growth in countries according to their gnp, the savings rate and the growth of companies among other indicators in Latin American countries, which were then correlated with each other to examine variables that could be locomotives or explicative of the decrease in poverty rates. Results: After analyzing the correlation between the different variables, a strong relationship was found between the increase in the average amounts awarded and the decrease in the poverty rate; the strengthening of the microcredit market and its relationship to poverty in the countries that were analyzed was shown. Conclusions: Microfinance became a powerful tool in the fight against poverty in the countries where it was practiced, respecting the human dignity of those individuals who suffer from economic and social exclusion.

Introduction: The policy for Social Interest Housing (vis from its Spanish acronym) has been designed to contribute towards improvement of the quality of life of families of limited means through the provision of a cash subsidy, according to the different socioeconomic conditions. Methodology: In Bogotá, the following indicators are taken into account: coefficient of use of the housing subsidy, interest rates for financing housing in real value, uvr, mortgage credit approval indicator, variation in the index of prices of new and used housing, demand for non-vis housing and employment rate. The objective is to determine the behavior of the Demand for Social Interest Housing (demvis) and the effectiveness of the incentives of the policy. Results: This research article summarizes the results found during comparison of the conceptual, theoretical and regulatory structure of the Social Interest Housing policy through a qualitative analysis that apparently shows the effectiveness of that policy and the fulfillment of the requirements with the aim of favoring families of limited means. Conclusions: Based on the econometric model, it can be seen that the housing subsidy has little effect on the dynamism of the demand for Social Interest Housing.

In today’s neoclassical-economic world, the space for realization consists of the choice between goods and leisure, where capacities have no place because the only element that makes it possible is the freedom of choice between both (Ortiz-Davison, Ortiz-Mendoza and Cárdenas-Almagro, 2004)1.