An End to Poverty in Brazil? An Assessment of the Lula and Rousseff Governments' Poverty Reduction and Elimination Strategies

Abstract

To what extent is poverty elimination feasible? The article examines the nature and extent of poverty reduction strategies in the developing world generally and in Brazil in particular. The implementation of neoliberal economic development and social policies has resulted in a relative decline in levels of relative poverty and encouraged policy makers that poverty elimination is within sight (through the Brasil sem Miseria program). However, the results of such policies have been mixed and are contingent and will arguably remain so without a complete overhaul of prevailing economic and social structures.