Poverty upsurge in 2015 and the rising trend in regional and age inequality among the poor in Brazil

Abstract

Summary The aim of this article is threefold. Firstly, to present income-based poverty and extreme poverty indicators for 2015, when the macroeconomic crisis led to a generalized deterioration affecting all areas and regions. The second aim is to discuss long-term evolution, emphasizing the period since 2004, when sustained improvement of income indicators as well as convergence of regional and area results began. Considering the period from 2004 to 2014/2015, the third aim is to show that the reduction in poverty and extreme poverty was parallel to increased inequality in poverty regarding two critical aspects: the regional aspect, since inequality among the five regions became higher, thus reinforcing the dichotomy between the North/Northeast versus the Centre-South; the age aspect, because the recent improvements since 2004 have not sufficiently benefited children as to reverse their disadvantaged position, so much so that in 2015 children still had a share in poverty that was twice their share in the total population. The last section concerns policy measures that may reduce the impact of the crisis on the poor.

Combination of conditional cash transfer program and environmental health interventions reduces child mortality: an ecological study of Brazilian municipalities

“…Source: adapted from Groot et al [29], and Rasella et al [22],. 1 Underlying determinants. 2 Outcome Only categories related to deaths due to diarrhea were also chosen, which were also classified as Diseases Related to Inadequate Environmental Sanitation (DRSA I) [46].…”

“…Brazil remains among the countries with the highest levels of inequality [ 1 , 2 ]. Progress in poverty reduction achieved until 2014 began to reverse due to economic slowdown, after a period of sharp and sustained decline of poverty and inequality since 2004 [ 1 , 2 ]. By the period when this study was carried out, the number of families living with limited access to basic goods and services was raising.…”

An evaluation of the structure of the labour market, assistance policies and sectoral productivity on the pro‐poor growth for Brazil from 2004 to 2014: A dynamic panel analysis

“…According to the data from the World Bank [WB] (2020) from 2004 to 2014, there was a reduction of 77.65% of the population who were living in extreme poverty, 71.64% of the population living in poverty and 56.08% of the population living in conditions of vulnerability to poverty. However, as Rocha (2019) points out, due to the macroeconomic crisis of 2015, this process has been reversed, and there is an increase in poverty in all regions of Brazil. This situation, in which there is an association between economic growth and poverty reduction, is defined by the economic literature as 'pro-poor growth'.…”

“…In relation to the work of pro-poor growth or seeking to discuss the issue of poverty in Brazil, there is a concentration of studies that evaluate poverty through the decomposition of poverty rates or by spatial components (Ahamdanech et al, 2020;Kakwani et al, 2010;Kakwani & Pernia, 2000;Klasen et al, 2020;Manso et al, 2010;Menezes-Filho & de Vasconcellos, 2007;Rocha, 2019). Such analysis methodologies, although extremely relevant for describing and detailing the determinants of poverty in Brazil, are not applicable to explain how aggregated variables in terms of states related to social assistance or economic growth policies are related to the ranges of poverty.…”

Negros em movimento: migração e desigualdade racial no Brasil

“…A tabela 4.13 mostra, para os anos de 1995 e 2015, a distribuição regional das populações pobre e total brasileiras, onde ficam evidentes os descompassos entre as participações de cada região nas respectivas populações 14 . Conforme apontado por Rocha (2019), os pobres, qualquer que seja o conceito usado, são os menos privilegiados na distribuição de renda e riqueza, bem como no acesso a serviços públicos, informações e outros elementos desejados para uma qualidade de vida adequada. No Brasil, a pobreza absoluta persiste por causa da desigualdade na distribuição de renda, não por insuficiência global de meios para garantir um nível de vida razoável para todos.…”