Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean is neither as predictable nor as static as many believe. In some countries, income inequality is extremely high, while in others it is similar to that of the United States.
The potential income and opportunities for children in the region tend to reflect the situation of their parents, implying low levels of intergenerational mobility. A study shows that between 44% (Argentina) and 63% (Guatemala) of current income inequality in nine countries is explained by inherited factors.