Abstract

ALBA CARRILLO, Cristopher Geovanny; LOJA ZHAGUI, Cristobal Josue  and  VEGA JARAMILLO, Flor Yelena. Public social spending and its impact on Ecuador's human development index. Period 2007 - 2021. Revista InveCom [online]. 2025, vol.5, n.3, e050378.  Epub May 04, 2025. ISSN 2739-0063.  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14548971.

The objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between public social spending and the Human Development Index (HDI) in Ecuador during the period 2007-2021, considering the impact of social policies in areas such as health, education and economic welfare. Using a mixed methodology, quantitative and qualitative analyses were combined, using secondary data from official institutions such as the Central Bank of Ecuador and the National Institute of Statistics and Census, complemented with documentary review. The descriptive statistical analysis identified an average annual growth of 0.16% in the HDI, highlighting the importance of social spending, despite the fluctuations recorded. The overall trend reflected sustained progress in welfare, although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused a temporary contraction, followed by a partial recovery in 2021. The results underscore that public spending in social sectors has been key to improving quality of life, but also evidence the need for more consistent distribution and comprehensive strategies to maximize long-term impact. The research concludes that strengthening inclusive and sustainable public policies is crucial to ensure equitable human progress in Ecuador.

Keywords : sustainable development; public expenditure; socioeconomic indicators.

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