Although social policy involves goals which go beyond combating poverty, such as building societies with greater social cohesion and equity, the shortage of public resources —particularly in periods of crisis— makes it necessary to be selective in order to ensure that monetary transfers and social services reach the poorest part of the population (ECLAC, 2000). The use of targeting mechanisms in the framework of conditional transfer programmes should not be seen as an end in itself, but as a social policy instrument to “do more with less” and increase the progressivity of social spending by guiding public efforts towards those whose need is greatest. Bearing in mind that in 2009 around 190 million people lived in situations of poverty (see chapter I) and that such programmes were benefiting 101 million, it could be argued that there is still scope for increasing such programmes and covering greater numbers of families who are unable to satisfy their basic needs by their own means. In the framework of the current worldwide economic crisis and the resulting threat of rising poverty, some countries in the region have in fact announced expansions in conditional transfer programmes.