Izete Pengo Bagolin

The impact of cash transfer programs on Brazilian’s well-being

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate if there is any evidence of differentials in the well-being achievements of two groups which will be called the “artificially” and the “truly” not poor; and second, to test the hypothesis that income from work is a better entitlement than income received from social programs. Design/methodology/approach - The author used data from the 2008 Brazilian Household Budget Survey and selected two groups. Both groups are composed of people living between the absolute and the relative poverty line. The group that is living above the absolute poverty line only due to cash transfer programs will be considered the “artificially” not poor. And people who are out of absolute poverty but not receiving any help from social program are considered the “truly” (and not absolutely) poor. The hypothesis was tested using structural equation modeling. Findings - The results support the hypothesis that people who are not receiving income from cash transfer programs achieve a higher level of well-being in the dimensions of housing and food. Food and housing capabilities affect each other and such result reinforces the multidimensionality of the Brazilian poverty. Research limitations/implications - The main limitations refers to the restrict number of dimensions and to the necessity to adapt the indicators available to answer the paper objectives. Practical implications - The paper results can help the policy makers to better understand the cash transfer programs attainment and boundaries. Social implications - The paper results highlight that the cash transfer programs, even being useful to improve people well-being, are not sufficient to promote human capabilities and are not truly undertaking the multidimensional deprivations of the poor. Originality/value - The paper compares two groups of people living with identical amount of income acquired from different origins.

Gênero e pobreza multidimensional no município de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

This paper aims to emphasize the importance of different dimensions in poverty studies in Porto Alegre and, to identify spatial and gender disparities among its regions. The paper was based in a dataset from a survey conduced during 2007 by a partnership among two Universities and the Municipal Administration of Porto Alegre and sponsored by REDE URB-AL. In a two stages methodology, 16386 people living in poverty condition were interviewed. The results allow the researchers to highlight the importance of dimensions such as habitation, health, education to allow people have a “dignifying live”. It is also possible to conclude that the deprivations between women and man and those differences are heterogeneous also among Porto Alegre Regions. Such results show more clearly the actual conditions of the population living in poverty.

CRESCIMENTO DISTRIBUTIVO NO BRASIL: SIMULANDO IMPACTOS DE POLÍTICAS FISCAIS COM UM MODELO MULTISSETORIAL

Este trabalho analisa os efeitos de algumas politicas fiscais sobre o crescimento economico e a distribuicao da renda nacional utilizando um modelo multissetorial. Os resultados das mostram que existem politicas que levam, simultaneamente, a um maior crescimento e a uma melhoria na distribuicao da renda. Entre as simulacoes feitas, as que provocaram um crescimento distributivo foram: a) reducao da carga do imposto de renda sobre as familias mais pobres compensada por um aumento da carga deste imposto sobre as familias mais ricas; b) redirecionamento das transferencias do governo com um aumento do montante para as familias mais pobres e uma diminuicao para as familias mais ricas; e c) um aumento do gasto publico financiado por um aumento da carga de impostos diretos. Os resultados mostram tambem que as politicas tributarias tem efeitos timidos sobre a distribuicao da renda quando comparadas com as transferencias do governo.

Reducing Poverty and Food Insecurity in Rural Brazil: the Impact of the Zero Hunger Program

Summary Nearly one in six people in Brazil live in rural areas, representing a diverse population facing a variety of challenges that often differ from their urban counterparts. Access to basic food and the alleviation of poverty are key issues in many rural communities and this article provides an overview of the scope of public policies designed to improve food security and support poverty reduction in rural areas of Brazil. In particular we discuss actions implemented since 2003 under Brazils Zero Hunger Program. The context for this important programme is described by reporting various indicators of poverty and food insecurity used for both rural and urban areas in Brazil. We argue that Brazil has been successful in reducing rural poverty and in improving the nutritional status of many people living in rural areas and that the Zero Hunger Program has played a significant role in achieving these positive outcomes. However, although poverty and hunger have been considerably reduced in the last decade, and there have been important improvements in rural areas, there is still a long way to go before Brazil can claim to have eliminated poverty and hunger.

Determinantes da pobreza nas Regiões Metropolitanas do Brasil no período de 1995 a 2009

The objective of this paper is to analyze the impact of growth and inequality on poverty in the metropolitan areas of Brazil. For both factors we use Shapleys temporal and spatial decomposition, through a methodology proposed by Shorrocks (1999). We analyzed data obtained from PNAD from 1995 to 2009. The measurement of poverty is treated with the family of Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) indices, using one poverty line. The results of the annual analysis showed little change in poverty levels in the period 1995-2003. The following period, 2004-2009, shows a declining trend in poverty indicators for all metropolitan areas and the growth component is the main determinant of this trend. With regards to the spatial analysis of decomposition of poverty, there are changes in the spatial pattern, with decreasing levels of poverty differences between the countrys metropolitan areas.

FATORES QUE INFLUENCIAM O DESEMPENHO ESCOLAR NO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL: UMA ANÁLISE COM REGRESSÕES QUANTÍLICAS

In the past few decades, education has been highlighted by the economic literature as an important mean for growth and economic development. The present study aims to identify the determinants for school achievements at Rio Grande do Sul state for the year 2007 through quantile regression estimation. To that end, two different analysis are made, one considering average grades; and another more desegregated, considering individual students proficiency and intra-state regional heterogeneity. The first analysis showed that teachers, students and school director’s characteristics are the prime determinant for average school performance. In regard to individual achievements, socio-economic matters revealed significant effect. Furthermore, significant regional differences on school performance were observed, indicating that to participate in a particular Council of Regional Development impacts individual proficiency.

Evolução da distribuição geográfica da população gaúcha, 1970-2000

O presente trabalho estuda a dinâmica da populacao gaucha entre os anos de 1970 e 2000. A base de dados utilizada foi construida com a utilizacao do Sistema de Conversao Municipal, uma nova metodologia desenvolvida pela FEE. Essa metodologia possibilita a obtencao de uma base de dados ainda nao explorada e uniforme em relacao a quantidade de municipios, 232, conforme a malha municipal vigente em 1970, sem ignorar as emancipacoes que ocorreram nos periodos subsequentes. As fontes de dados brutos sao os censos demograficos de 1970, 1980, 1991 e 2000. Os resultados obtidos apontam para um processo de dispersao da populacao urbana, com maior crescimento relativo das cidades pequenas e medias. Dentro deste contexto, vale destacar a Regiao Metropolitana de Porto alegre, que se destaca em termos de crescimento urbano, com o fortalecimento das cidades que compoem o colar metropolitano.

A DINÂMICA DO EMPREGO E DA DESIGUALDADE NA RENDA DO TRABALHO NOS DIFERENTES SETORES DA INDÚSTRIA GAÚCHA ENTRE 1996 E 2005

This article analyses the changes that occurred from 1996 to 2005 in the distributions of the wages among the workers in different industrial sectors in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The inequalities in the distributions were expressed through Gini indices. Statistical regressions were used to identify the variables responsible for the changes in these inequalities. The results show that from 1996 to 2005 occurred a reduction in the inequality of the industrial salary’s income distribution in Rio Grande do Sul. But this reduction in the income inequality is due to a decrease in the average salary received by the workers and a great rise in the proportion of workers occupying positions with lower salaries. During this period the number of the State industrial workers increased at a lower rate than the value of its output, meaning that labor productivity raised. In the same period the educational level of the workers increased. Thus, the State industrial workers accumulated human capital, increased their productivity, but their wages declined.