Social inclusion

Americas Quarterly released its 2014 Social Inclusion Index today.   The index looks at a variety of variables in Latin American countries.   AQ provides this description of the index and its purpose: 

As we've done since we first launched this index, we define
social inclusion in a broad but specific way. We look at the
economics of a country and its potential to improve social
mobility (GDP growth and poverty rates). We also examine
the range of rights (civil, political, women's, and LGBT),
policies (social investment), conditions (access to adequate
housing, secondary school enrollment, access to a formal job,
financial inclusion), and public attitudes and behavior.
We believe this comprehensive approach provides the best
measure of a citizen's ability to participate meaningfully in the
political system and in the broader national community—and
thus to realize his or her potential.

 El Salvador and its neighbors in Central America filled 4 of the bottom 5 slots in the 2014 Index.  El Salvador fell two places to 14th out of the 17 countries in the index.  Here are the 2014 rankings, with 2013 positions in parentheses.

1) Uruguay (No. 1)
2) Argentina (n/a)
2) Costa Rica (4)
4) United States (3)
5) Chile (2)
6) Peru (7)
7) Ecuador (6)
8) Brazil (5)
9) Panama (8)
10) Bolivia (10)
11) Colombia (9)
12) Mexico (11)
13) Nicaragua (13)
14) El Salvador (12)
15) Paraguay (14)
16) Honduras (15)
17) Guatemala (16)

El Salvador ranked low in such variables as women's access to housing, personal empowerment and financial inclusion as well as ranking at the bottom of economic growth.  Its highest ranking came in the areas of political rights and government responsiveness.

The Christian Science Monitor published an article regarding the release of the Social Inclusion Index, tying it to the issue of unaccompanied youth:

“A toxic mix of high rates of poverty, lack of opportunities, gender and race disparities, and very low access to formal jobs and education … is at the root of the growing numbers of unaccompanied youth from Central America entering the U.S.,” said a statement from editors of Americas Quarterly, which publishes the Social Inclusion Index 2014.