Trajectories of Inequality in Brazil
The challenges Brazil faces nowadays, in particular the ongoing crisis of governance and a deep economic recession, raise important questions about the country鈥 s capacity to preserve impressive gains it made in recent decades to reduce historically high levels of social, economic, and political inequalies. This is the context of a daylong seminar the Brazil Institute of the 浪花直播 Center will convene on February 16, in partnership with the University of S茫o Paulo Centro de Estudos da Metr贸pole and the S茫o Paulo Science Foundation (FAPESP).
The discussion will bring together co-authors of the most comprehensive study to date on the various manifestations of inequality in the largest South American nation and scholars from American and Brazilian academic institutions. Published last year, Trajet贸rias das Desigualdades: como o Brasil mudou nos 煤ltimos 50 anos, was received as an important contribution to the social sciences on issues dealing with the connections between democracy, public policies, and inequality. The book presents new research on the trajectories of Brazil鈥檚 inequality over the past 50 years. 鈥淚ts original contribution lies in being the first comprehensive study based on solid empirical research dealing with long-term changes in Brazil,鈥 wrote University of S茫o Paulo political science Professor Marta Arretche, who organized and edited the volume summarized here. 鈥淥n a theoretical level, the book鈥檚 main contribution consists of demonstrating that the path toward inequality-reduction comprises multiple and connected dimensions whose origins are independent. Neither industrialization [nor] democracy are sufficient conditions for this purpose.鈥
Trajet贸rias das Desigualdades brings together in a single volume a collection of studies on the different aspects of the social and economic structures considered important for research on inequality, such as: unequal political participation; access to education, health and public services; insertion in the labor market; race and gender issues. Also present in the book are detailed studies on the connections between inequality and the trajectory of migration and religious affiliation. The volume presents in fourteen thematic chapters a detailed and comprehensive outlook on inequality, addressing different dimensions of the problem. All chapters have quantitative and longitudinal studies based on data from six editions of the Demographic Census, from 1960 to 2010. The studies examine the connections across different macro transitions 鈥 from a rural country to an urban one; from an authoritarian to a democratic regime; from a stagnant to a growing economy鈥 and the policy direction of democratic governments. It also explores the trajectory of different dimensions of inequality.
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PROGRAM
TRAJECTORIES OF INEQUALITY IN BRAZIL
9:00am: Opening Session
Welcome, by Paulo Sotero, Director, Brazil Institute
The book content: Trajectories of Inequality in Brazil, by Marta Arretche, Professor of Political Science, University of S茫o Paulo
9:45am: First Session - The policies on Politics
Chair: Maria Herminia Tavares de Almeida, Senior Researcher, Brazilian Center of Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP)
Political Participation, by Fernando Limongi, Professor of Political Science, University of S茫o Paulo, and Jos茅 Antonio Cheibub, University Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois
Councils, associations, and inequality, by Adrian Gurza Lavalle, Professor of Political Science, University of S茫o Paulo
Discussants: Daniel Gingerich, Associate Professor and Director of Quantitative Collaborative, University of Virginia and Matthew Taylor, Associate Professor of International Service, American University
11:15am: Coffee Break
11:30am: Second Session: Education Policy
Chair: Matthew Taylor, American University
Education and inequality in Brazil, by Naercio Menezes Filho, Professor, Institute of Education and Research, INSPER
Educational stratification among youth in Brazil, by Carlos A.C. Ribeiro, Professor of Social and Political Studies, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ)
Discussant: David Lam, Director of the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
1:00pm: Lunch Discussion: The current Brazilian crisis
Carlos Eduardo Lins da Silva, Special Advisor, FAPESP; Paulo Sotero, Brazil Institute; Matthew Taylor, American University; Sergei Soares, Visiting Fellow, Center for Global Development
2:00 pm: Third Session: Urban infrastructure and services
Chair: Carlos Eduardo Lins Da Silva, Senior Adivsor, S茫o Paulo Science Foundation, FAPESP
Urban Conditions, by Eduardo Marques, Vice-Director at CEM and Professor, University of S茫o Paulo
Territorial inequalities, by Marta Arretche, University of S茫o Paulo
Discussant: Peter Ward, University Professor of Sociology, University of Texas
3:30pm: Coffee Break
3:45 pm: Concluding Session: The path toward inequality-reduction
Chair: Sergei Soares, Center for Global Development
The path toward inequality-reduction, by Marta Arretche, University of S茫o Paulo
Discussants: Kenneth Roberts, University Professor of Comparative and Latin American Politics, Cornell University and Maria Herminia Tavares de Almeida, Brazilian Center of Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP)
Speakers



Professor, Insper; Special Advisor, S茫o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)






Professor of Political Science, University of S茫o Paulo




Professor, School of International Service, American University, and former Brazil Institute Fellow



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Brazil Institute
The Brazil Institute鈥攖he only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington鈥攁ims to deepen understanding of Brazil鈥檚 complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and US institutions across all sectors. Read more