Regional Inequality In Brazil Research Articles

Left behind places in Brazil: the dynamics of regional inequalities and public policies in the early 21st century

Abstract This article aims to discuss left behind places in Brazil in the early 21st century. We conceptually debate the left behind places’ approach in dialogue with other contemporary theoretical perspectives. To evaluate regional inequalities in Brazil, we used the coefficient of variation, calculated at two different scales from 2002 to 2019 for GDP per capita, also considering social indicators. The results indicated a slow decline in regional inequalities. We debate the role of recently implemented public policies in this process, as well as the potentiality of these policies to identify left behind places and deal with them.

DP 0271 - A Century of regional inequalities in Brazil

This work calculates coefficients of spatial inequalities of wealth amongst Brazilian municipalities, for each year for the period from 1920 to 2016, states of the federation, from 1939 to 2017, and amongst municipalities from each of the five Brazilians’ macro-regions, from 1920 to 2016. The use of non-parametric statistics reveals rough short-term paths of inequalities, and the occurrence of U-shaped relationships between spatial inequalities and the level of per capita GDP, known as the Williamson’s Curve (1965). Decomposition of the changes in the Gini coefficients show intense rank turbulence and leapfrogging over richer municipalities, from 1920 to 1970. Although the coefficients confirmed a long-term convergence trend in spatial inequalities, since 1970, there have been significant differences between macro-regional spatial inequalities dynamics, and a worrying switch to divergence in the Southeast, since in 1996.

The effects of oil royalties on regional inequality in Brazil

This article evaluates the impact of oil royalties on Brazil’s production structure and their effects on regional inequality. An interregional input-output model was used, encompassing the 27 Brazilian states and 26 sectors, with base year 2008. The simulation strategy assumed 75% of these funds are channelled into education and 25% into the health sector, as mandated by Law 12.858/2013. To measure the effect of royalties on regional inequality, the Gini coefficient was calculated both ex-ante and ex-post with respect to the impact analysis. The main findings indicate that interregional and intersectoral spillovers are weak; but, in the Southeast and Northeast regions, the investment of royalties in education and health could help reduce intraregional inequality.

Fiscal Policy and regional inequality in Brazil

Abstract This paper aims to estimate the long-term impacts of an austerity policy in the Brazilian regions. Our main contribution is to measure those effects using a dynamic interregional general equilibrium model, capturing the indirect impacts in sectors and regions, in addition to the direct effects of the expenditure cuts. The main results show that the fiscal adjustment would attenuate growth in most of the Brazilian states by 2037. Municipalities located in the poorest regions would be relatively more affected. Furthermore, the adjustment would have a negative impact on regional inequalities in all scenarios, both at the state and municipal levels.

Regional inequalities and the role of federal resources in the SUS: do political factors affect the allocation of funds?

The research problem in this paper is a discussion of the political factors affecting the allocation of federal resources in the SUS (Unified Health System) and its effects on regional inequalities in Brazil. The main objective was to explore the influence of political factors as criteria for the distribution of federal funds, considering the regional inequalities of the country. A mixed method was used by collecting quantitative data to study the allocation of resources for each unit of the Federation, from 2003 to 2017, in search of outliers, which require more in-depth explanation based on qualitative research methods. The fuzzy-set QCA software was applied in the qualitative research phase for identification of technical and political conditions, where required and/or sufficient, for an atypical distribution of resources from one year to another. The quantitative analysis demonstrated the decrease of regional inequalities in allocation of resources to States in the North and Northeast. However, when studying the constraints of the distribution of the funds for the States of these regions, qualitative analysis demonstrated the influence of political factors on the allocation of resources, rather than purely technical factors.

New Developmentalism, Public Policies, and Regional Inequalities in Brazil: The Advances and Limitations of Lula’s and Dilma’s Governments

Considered from the perspective of new developmentalism, the implementation of regional development policies under the Lula and Dilma governments was limited. The recovery of state activity was accompanied by the maintenance of macroeconomic policies characterized as neoliberal. In this context, social and sectoral policies had important impacts on the poorer regions in which economic and social problems are concentrated, but they were not focused on reducing regional inequalities and therefore did not substantially change the historically high level of those inequalities.Considerada da perspectiva do novo desenvolvimentismo, a implementação de políticas de desenvolvimento regional sob os governos Lula e Dilma era limitada. A recuperação da atividade estatal foi acompanhada pela manutenção de políticas macroeconômicas caracterizadas como neoliberais. Nesse contexto, as políticas sociais e setoriais tiveram impactos importantes nas regiões mais pobres nas quais os problemas econômicos e sociais estão concentrados, mas não se concentraram na redução das desigualdades regionais e, portanto, não alteraram substancialmente o nível historicamente alto dessas desigualdades.

The development potential index of creative economy for Brazilian federal state capitals

The article deals with the measurement of the potential dynamism of creative economy in the 26 capitals of Brazilian states and the Federal District. The central aim is to estimate the potential of creative economy in the selected cities through the creation and application of the Development Potential Index of Creative Economy, which is an index composed of secondary data. The methodological procedures consisted of three steps, the first one dedicated to the theoretical revision of some indexes previously constructed and applied to the understanding of the dynamism of the creative economy in several countries. In the second step, we selected the indicators for the analysis of Brazilian reality, which were aggregated into three dimensions: talent; attractiveness and connectivity; cultural environment and creative entrepreneurship. In the third step, we calculated the DPICE based on two techniques: one that assigned equal weights to the three dimensions and the other one that established different weights, using endogenous weights. The results confirm the regional inequality in Brazil, for the state capitals with greater development potential are located in the southeastern and southern regions of Brazil, and show ways for public policies to strengthen the development of creative economy in those cities.

Media coverage of the Zika crisis in Brazil: The construction of a ‘war’ frame that masked social and gender inequalities

Between 2015 and 2016, Zika became an epidemic of global concern and the focus of intense media coverage. Using a hybrid model of frame and social representations theory, we examine how the Zika outbreak was reported in two major newspapers in Brazil: O Globo and Folha de São Paulo. The analysis of 186 articles published between December 2015 and May 2016 reveals a dominant ‘war’ frame supported by two sub-frames: one focused on eradicating the vector (mosquito) and another on controlling microcephaly, placing the burden of prevention on women. Scientific uncertainties about the virus and its relationship to microcephaly coupled with political uncertainties in Brazil increased the power of the war frame. This frame gave prominence and legitimacy to certain representations of disease management during the crisis, masking social and gender inequalities. We show how the cartography of the disease overlaps with that of poverty and regional inequality in Brazil to argue that addressing socio-economic aspects is essential, but normally neglected, in media communications during disease outbreaks like Zika.

A expansão da educação superior e a desigualdade regional brasileira: uma análise nos marcos dos planos nacionais de educação

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a expanso da educao superior nos marcos dos Planos Nacionais de Educao (PNEs), na perspectiva de enfrentamento desigualdade regional brasileira. Considera as leis e documentos formulados para direcionamento da educao como importantes fontes de investigao, na direo de refletir as polticas elaboradas para reparao das desigualdades regionais. A metodologia utilizada consiste na pesquisa bibliogrfica e documental. Os resultados apontam que os PNEs no apresentaram solues para o problema da desigualdade regional na expanso da educao superior. Conclui que a expanso desse nvel de ensino ocorre de maneira assimtrica e continua a confirmar a excluso social das regies Norte e Nordeste do pas.

Regional Inequalities in Brazil: Divergent Readings on Their Origin and Public Policy Design

Cet article porte sur la divergence des lectures sur l'origine des inégalités régionales au Brésil, sous l'interprétation de quatre intellectuels: Celso Furtado, Wilson Cano, Francisco de Oliveira et Ruy Moreira. En outre, l'article traite de l'essence des principales politiques créées par le gouvernement fédéral brésilien depuis le milieu du XXe siècle afin d'intervenir sur le plan politique, économique et social dans les dynamiques socio-spatiales au cœur des questions régionales. Dans ce cas, nous mettons en évidence les Pôles de développement, les Axes nationaux d'intégration et de développement et la Politique nationale pour le développement régional. Les lectures et propositions d'intervention dans les questions régionales portent des idéologies et des projets politiques sous-jacents qui sont plus ou moins cohérents avec les objectifs des acteurs hégémoniques au pouvoir ou qui sont appropriés par ceux-ci. Par conséquent, il est essentiel d'élucider l'essence et les implications de ces lectures et propositions d'action concernant la problématique régionale afin de comprendre le rôle des inégalités régionales dans le panorama du développement socio-économique au Brésil.

Beyond income transfers: The decline of regional inequality in Brazil during the 2000s

This article seeks to explain declining regional inequality in Brazil by exploring the economic ‘catch-up’ of Brazil’s poorest region. To that end, the article analyzes income policies as well as supply-side policies aimed at improving the productive capacity of poor regions, and presents data showing that both have proven more important than the current literature suggests. The article also introduces the concept of regional Keynesian effects, and provides preliminary evidence for its relevance, to demonstrate that income policies, such as cash transfers to poor regions, have the potential to foster local output growth.

Domestic Tourism and Regional Inequality in Brazil

This paper analyses the consumption patterns of tourists from different domestic origins and choosing different domestic destinations in Brazil in terms of their expenditure level and composition. The authors also look at the various alternatives for financing tourist expenditures and their implications for the net multipliers in an integrated framework. The paper uses survey data for domestic tourism in Brazil to consolidate an interregional matrix of expenditures by tourists and then employs an interregional input– output system for Brazil to compute the tourism multiplier effects based on alternative hypotheses for the sources of financing of tourist expenditures. The results are analysed and their implications for regional inequality in the country are discussed.

Income Inequality and Inflation in the EU

1. Introduction There is extended research analyzing relationship between income inequality and selected macroeconomic variables such as growth rate, inflation rate, openness etc. Azzoni (2001) has analyzed regional inequality in Brazil using data from period 1939-1995. Barro (2000) has used a panel data approach to investigate 100 countries for period 1960-1990. Bandelj and Mahutga (2010) have presented one of cross-national analyses of Central and Eastern European States after fall of communistic regimes. While Azzoni (2001) and Barro (2000) have focused on linkage of inequality and growth, Bandelj and Mahutga (2010) have assessed inequality and socio-economic changes. Beckfield (2009) has developed an argument that regional integration in Europe has affected economic inequality. Also Forbes (2000) has investigated relationship between inequality and growth. In this research data from 13 EU4 countries have been used from period 2000-2009 in an attempt to investigate relationship between income inequality and inflation. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 gives a brief introduction to income inequality and inflation and outlines some related theoretical and empirical literature. Section 3 presents methodology and results while section 4 concludes research. 2. Inequality and Inflation The GINI coefficient is a widely used statistic for measuring inequality. It is derived from Lorenz curve and defined as ratio of area between Lorenz curve and perfect equality line. The Lorenz curve plots relation between cumulative percentage of population and proportion of total income earned by each cumulative percentage. The dependent variable is GINI coefficient; a common measure of inequality that varies from 0 to 1, where 0 presents perfect equality and 1 perfect inequality. As it is stated in Duro (2004) the GINI coefficient is more sensitive to income changes occurred at middle of income distribution, treating symmetrically lower and upper tails of incomes ranking. Due to fact that income distribution may have long run effects policy makers should be concerned with distributional implications of government policies. Also extent of inequality-inflation link is important in designing of stabilization programs as it is stated in Al-Mahrubi (2000). When unemployment rates increase it usually affect more people in lower tail of personal income distribution, thus lowering average per capita income (Levernier, et al., 1995). Checchi and Garcia-Penalosa (2008) argue that when unemployment rate is not too high unemployment and inequality linkage is positive. Beetsma and Van Der Ploeg (1996), Al-Mahrubi (1997), Romer and Romer (1998) and Albanesi (2001, 2007) have found a strong positive relation between inflation and inequality. Cardoso (1992) has concluded that inflation shifts wage profile. Bulif (1998) has used a cross-sectional approach regressing GINI coefficients and has found that higher inflation is associated with more inequality (Crowe, 2004). Milanovic (1994) argues about factors which determine income distribution. Factors are in short run, from point of view of policy makers or society as a whole given and by social (or public policy) choice. Milanovic (1994) tests hypothesis according to which government policies can significantly change income distribution and Kuznet holds. Al-Marhubi (1997) investigates inflation-inequality link by using positive political-economy approach and finds that countries which have a greater inequality have a higher average rate of inflation. The dependent variable which is used in Al-Mahrubi model is average annual inflation rate in log form and independents are GINI coefficient, openness, political instability, turnover of Central Bank Governors and legal Central Bank independence. …

Trends in Female Breast Cancer Mortality in Urban Centers and Rural Regions of Brazil

BACKGROUND: Social and regional inequalities in Brazil such as delayed diagnosis and a healthcare system with technological limitations hamper the access of socioeconomically deprived women with breast cancer to treatment. Women living in urban centers are known to have a more favorable socioeconomic status and better access to medical and hospital care compared to those living in rural areas. In addition, the coverage of death registration is wider in urban areas. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted to compare breast cancer mortality in urban centers and rural regions of Brazil. AIMS: To provide a comprehensive picture of mortality trends in female breast cancer in urban centers and rural regions of Brazil. METHODS: This was an ecological study of a temporal series, using mortality database (SIM/WHO) and demographic database (IBGE/WHO). An analysis of the mortality trends between 1980 and 2010 was performed using Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Breast cancer mortality was found to be 3 times lower in rural areas compared to urban areas throughout the entire evaluation period. A declining trend in mortality was found in some urban centers: Porto Alegre (-1.6%; 95%CI: -2.4 to -0.7; p<0.01); Rio de Janeiro (-0.9%; -1.4 to -0.4; p<0.01); Sao Paulo (-1.7%; -2.6 to -0.9; p<0.01); Belo Horizonte (-1.2%; -2.0 to -0.4; p=0.01) and Recife (-0.9%; -1.7 to -0.1; p=0.03). However, increases were found in other urban centers: Fortaleza (0.5%; 95%CI: 0.1–0.9; p=0.02), Belem (0.8%; 0.2–1.5; p=0.01), Joao Pessoa (1.6%; 0.7–2.6; p<0.01), Teresina (4.6%; 1.2–8.2; p=0.01) and Porto Velho (9.0%; 3.8–14.6; p<0.01). A reduction occurred in rural areas of the state of Sao Paulo (-2.8%; 95%CI: -4.4 to -1.3; p<0.01). However, increases were found in most other rural areas in all the different states of the country, the worst being in Maranhao (17.6%; 95%CI: 9.2–26.7; p<0.01), Paraiba (14.5%; 10.0–19.2; p<0.01), Piaui (10.0%; 8.1–13.7; p<0.01) and Alagoas (10.8%; 7.1–14.6; p<0.01). DISCUSSION: In the period between 1980 and 2010, considerable differences were found in mortality from breast cancer in the urban and rural regions of Brazil. These findings coincide with the socioeconomic inequalities that are prevalent in this country. Mortality rates are higher in the urban centers despite the fact that this is exactly where specialized healthcare is more readily available. No conclusions can be reached concerning the access of these women to diagnosis and treatment, since the coverage of death registration is heterogeneous in the different areas of the country. CONCLUSION: Reductions were found in female breast cancer mortality in five urban centers in Brazil, while increases incurred in most rural areas with the exception of some regions in the south of the country. One of the reasons for this disparity may be the lower access to treatment among patients living in rural areas.

Energy policy and regional inequalities in the Brazilian economy

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the long-run regional impacts of the tariff policy of the Brazilian electric power sector. This sector has undergone a reform process that started in the 1990s. Since the beginning of the reform, two spatial trends of distribution of electric power tariffs have emerged among the Brazilian states, one of convergence and another of spatial divergence. These trends have been guided by the new electric power tariff policy and by the spatial features of the Brazilian economy, which is marked by a high degree of spatial concentration and hierarchical distribution of large markets. In addition, because of the presence of strong economies of scale, the recent electric power prices differentials might be caused by differentials in market size that provide better conditions for the achievement of economies of scale for electric power utility companies located in larger markets. Given the role of electric power as an important intermediate input in the production process and the interdependence between sectors, an Energy Interregional Computable General Equilibrium model was used to simulate the long-run regional impacts of electric power tariff policy in Brazil. The simulations showed that the heterogeneity of energy-intensity and the differentials of energy substitution drive the spatial impacts of changes in electric power prices. On the other hand, the recent trend of spatial dispersion of electric power prices might contribute to a decrease in the long-run economic growth and to an increase in the regional inequalities in Brazil.

SOCIAL POLICY AS REGIONAL POLICY: MARKET AND NONMARKET FACTORS DETERMINING REGIONAL INEQUALITY

ABSTRACT We decompose the recent changes in regional inequality in Brazil into its components, highlighting the role of spatially blind social programs. We aggregate personal income micro data to the state level, differentiating nine income sources, and assess the role of these components in the observed changes in regional inequality indicators. The main results indicate that the largest part of the recent reduction in regional inequality is related to the dynamics of the market‐related labor income, with manufacturing and services favoring deconcentration. Labor income in agriculture, retirement and pensions, and property rents and other sources favored concentration. The social programs Bolsa Família and Benefícios de Prestação Continuada are responsible for more than 24 percent of the reduction in inequality, although they account for less than 1.7 percent of the disposable household income. Such positive impact on regional concentration is impressive, since the goals of the programs are clearly nonspatial.

DESENVOLVIMENTO POLARIZADO E DESEQUILÍBRIOS REGIONAIS NO BRASIL

Este artigo tem como objetivo examinar algumas idéias clássicas sobre as causas das desigualdades regionais, incluindo os instrumentos de política normalmente recomendados para promover um crescimento mais equilibrado do ponto de vista espacial, procurando conciliar eficiência com eqüidade. O trabalho compreende o exame da teoria do crescimento polarizado, do princípio da causação circular e acumulativa de Myrdal e da origem e situação das desigualdades regionais no Brasil, incluindo o exame da hipótese de Kuznets e da possível reversão da polarização do crescimento econômico no País.

Banking and regional inequality in Brazil: an empirical note

The paper investigates a neglected aspect of regional inequality in Brazil, namely regional inequalities related to financial flows. A synthetic regional financial inequality index is proposed and calculated in a semester basis over the 02-1994/02-2000 period. The inequality measure attempts to capture to what extent deposits in a given state translate into credit operations in that locality. Two main results emerge. First, non-negligible inequality patterns emerge when one considers the segment of private banks and those are consistent with an important proportion of states with a predominantly exporting pattern, for which deposits surpasses loans in that locality. Second, if one focus on the segment of public banks, an opposite pattern appears, that is consistent with decision patterns that might have, in part, a regional development motivation.

Desafios logísticos às redes de negócios no Brasil: o que podem as parcerias público-privadas (PPPs)?

Este artigo discute a distribuição regional dos investimentos prioritários para parcerias público-privadas (PPPs), tendo por base as condições logísticas para formação de redes de negócios nas regiões e a perspectiva de estratégia de redução das desigualdades regionais, e como foco os sistemas de transporte. Considerando-se os aspectos positivos da regulamentação e o fato de não ter o objetivo de promover uma descentralização da riqueza nacional, conclui-se que além de não se poder esperar das PPPs o efeito de redução das desigualdades regionais no Brasil - uma distorção com repercussões extremamente negativas para o desenvolvimento brasileiro - é bastante possível que o efeito seja no sentido de reforçar as desigualdades.

Economic integration, poverty and regional inequality in Brazil

In this paper we address the issue of how trade integration can affect poverty and income distribution in Brazil. The analysis is conducted through a static General Equilibrium and Microsimulation Model of Brazil, calibrated with the PNAD 2001 data. The model comprises 112,055 Brazilian households and 263,938 adults, distinguishing 42 activities, 52 commodities, and 27 regions. The FTAA formation is simulated, and its impacts upon poverty and income distribution in Brazil analyzed. Results point to the fact that even a large shock like the one simulated wouldn't have a strong impact on poverty reduction in Brazil, although the results are concentrated on the poorest households.