The left-wave governments in Latin America faced high constraints in fulfilling their programs. Since structural dependence on capital cuts across countries, the literature has proposed explaining differences in redistributive outcomes as a function of left-wing parties’ connection and organisational capacity. However, recent contributions in economics discuss the magnitude of the increase in social equality in Latin America and the mechanisms that would produce it. These authors suggest that the fall in the Gini index responds to a redistribution of income among workers, with growing inequality in the upper percentiles (Burdín et al., 2022). Based on Lowi's (1984) and Wilson's (1980) typology of policies, I propose to understand redistributive contradictions as a function of different policy arenas. By analysing three Uruguayan FA policies, I show how the organised left achieves redistribution in arenas that affect its base in a concentrated way (redistributive arena). On the contrary, regressive policies are produced where the electoral base of the left presents diffuses and uncoordinated interests.
