Redistributive Effects of Social Programs on Income Inequality in Peru: A RIF–Gini and Atkinson Decomposition

This study evaluates the incidence of food and non-food social programs in function of income inequality in households in Peru during 2022–2024 in a context of persistent distributive gaps, despite social interventions aimed at promoting equity. Data from the National Household Survey (ENAHO) were used, with 93,148 observations corresponding to beneficiary and non-beneficiary households, and Recentered Influence Function (RIF) regressions were estimated to decompose the marginal effect of both types of programs on the Gini and Atkinson indices (ε = 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5). Food programs reduced inequality by 2.14% according to the RIF of the Gini and by −1.23%, −2.84% and −4.82% according to the RIF of the Atkinson. Non-food programs generated a greater reduction in the RIF of the Gini (−4.06%) and decreases of −2.52%, −3.51% and −3.06% in the Atkinson. Both types of programs positively influenced the decrease in inequality, highlighting the importance of incorporating structural determinants and household characteristics in redistributive policies. Social programs have positive redistributive effects, although insufficient in the face of structural and territorial inequalities. Strengthening their targeting and territorial articulation is recommended, especially in Andean and Amazon regions.