Tis book provides an account of social protection institutions in Latin America. It aims to develop a systematic understanding of the contribution of social protection institutions to shaping economic and social cooperation in the region. It is motivated by an acknowledgement that we lack a settled theory of social protection institutions in Latin America. Comparative study of social protection in the region has accelerated in recent decades. Te availability of harmonised data on social protection programmes, their features, implementation, and outcomes has made this possible. Regular household survey data, attitudinal data, and programme evaluation data ofer a range of tools to support the study social protection institutions. A substantive comparative research literature built on improving comparative data is making a signifcant contribution to our understanding of the role and scope of social protection in the region. Tis book contributes to advance research further towards the development of a theory of social protection in Latin America. By theory it is meant a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the contribution of social protection institutions to shaping social and economic cooperation.