Barometro Deuda Social
PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA SANTA MARÍA DE LOS BUENOS AIRES
The "Programa del Observatorio de la Deuda Social Argentina" is a center for research, extension and training of human resources within the Pontifical Catholic University created in the year 2002. Its activities take shape in a program which groups research projects supported by entities promoting the development of sicence and technology, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations.
Its main object is the study, assessment and monitoring of the state of human and social development in Argentina, as from national and international regulation parameters, taking into account the fact that non-enforcement of such rules constitutes a measure of the "Social Debt". This multidisciplinary team is formed by researchers and scholars (from the Argentine Catholic University itself as well as the National Council of Scientific and Technical Researchers) who carry out the mainfold study of national reality measured in terms of development achievements and shortcomings.
These studies aim to promote the acquisition of knowledge and consciousness on the part of ruling groups, specialists and the public opinion on the scope of poverty, marginality, social disintegration and economic inequality issues; as well as intervention causes and alternatives, fostering the development of policies and actions tending to the solution of such problems, on behalf of the most vulnerable sectors of society.
The Program implements a national survey yearly - as from 2004 - which mainly includes indicators of human development and social integration (Argentine Social Debt Survey) on homes, towns and children living in urban areas of the country. Currently, within the project "The bicentennial Argentina: 2010-2016", the poll surveys 5700 homes. From these surveys, the Observatorio de la Deuda Social has a primary data base with reliable social indicators, methodologically dependable and with widespread academic and political-institutional acknowledgment and application.
The information resulting from these studies allows the development of a prolific academic production attached to the university extension activities (technical assistance and the difussion of wide political-institutional impact information) and human resources training.
The two most remarkable research lines carried out currently within the project "The bicentennial Argentina: 2010-2016" are:
- Barómetro de la Deuda Social Argentina (Barometer of the Social Debt)
The Barometer identifies, studies, monitors and assesses the dynamics and the scope of the Social Debt - understood as a deficit in the abilities for human development and social integration of the population -. Moreover, it assesses the effect of policies and public and private actions which have an impact on their status and evolution. These activities are part of the following dimensions:
* Dimensions of material living conditions: habitat, health, and economic situation of households, as well as work and social security.
* Dimensions of human and social integration: psychosocial resources for human development and social and community life.
- Barómetro de la Deuda Social Argentina de la Infancia (Barometer of the Childhood Social Debt)
It represents a contribution to the knowledge about living conditions and the enforcement of the Rights of Childhood and Adolescence in urban Argentina. It analyzes infants, children in their first years, schoolchildren and adolescents according to:
* Material living conditions: evolution of the indicators of material living standards.
* Upbringing and socialization process: families, emotional and intellectual stimulation and peer relationships.
* Training process: early schooling, educational offer accesible to boys and girls, and perception of the quality of education from the viewpoint of reference adults.