The Memories of the “Plan” in the Greater Buenos Aires. Reflections on the Implementation of the Asignación Universal por Hijo

Abstract

This article analyzes the universalization conditions of the Asignación Universal por Hijo, a public policy program implemented by the Argentinean government since 2009. It discusses the terms in which this program defines its universal spirit, addressing two questions related with its territorial implementation, specifically in working-class neighborhoods located in Buenos Aires suburbs. The first question refers to the real coverage of the program, and the second one, which fits in with the other one, examines the way in that such process of territorial implementation reminds of previous social programs known as “plans” (created during the nineties to alleviate poverty), imposing limits to the universal character of the allocation, not only because of the existing restrictions but because of the impossibility of getting out of that logic, which tends to follow a focused pattern. In order to address this objective this work presents the results of a field work carried out in ten workingclass neighborhoods located in the abovementioned area during 2011.