Expat Community > Ecuador

vandtor
Joined 2010
Posts: 1065

Canasta Familiar

12 years ago

This was asked in another topic so I thought that I would give it a thread. The Canasta Familiar is a basket of pantry staples which the government determines which is common to most families. They monitor the prices in each of the big cities as a way to report inflation. You will hear this referred to often on the news when they talk about the economy.
I do believe that it done as a monthly cost but I could be wrong on that. Ecuador does not really have a social welfare system or food stamps. However, there are some programs like control del embarazo which helps pregnant women get medical check ups and food staples. I know in rural areas at least in Tungurahua, they hold vaccination clinics for the kids. Things can differ from province to province. There are a lot of aid organizations which come in and distribute food staples when there is an emergency, like the eruption of Tungurahua. However, for the most part the poor do make do with what they have or rely on the charity of church. I can remember in our small town an elderly disabled man who had no family, who would come to my mother-in-law's house for a bowl of rice and soup in the afternoon.
Most expats living in large cities probably won't see these things. Usually the Canasta familiar is for a family of 4 and for quite a long time has cost more than a monthly min wage.

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Canasta Familiar

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