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Case Studies
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Making growth work for the poor in Brazil

Brazilian oyster fisherman with his catch

This case study, which is part of a series, examines Brazil's economic growth since the 1960s and its impact on reducing poverty. It also looks at the country's huge inequality in income distribution, which is hindering further poverty reduction.

In 1970, there were 61 million people living in poverty in Brazil. By 1999, this had dropped to 33 million, thanks largely to economic growth over the previous four decades.

Continued growth will help to reduce these numbers further - but Brazil also needs to address the huge inequalities in people's pay: currently the top 10% earn about half of all income, while the bottom 50% earn just 10%.

It also needs to address other factors - such as access to education and race issues - which make it difficult for poor people to climb out of poverty.

Read full case study (1.9MB)

Case study background

This study is part of a series of 14 country case studies which are an output of a joint work programme with the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, Germany's federal ministry for economic collaboration and development Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit, the German international sustainable development organisation (GTZ), KfW Entwicklungsbank (KFW), the German Development Bank and the World Bank

The studies seek to respond to policy makers' questions on how to maximise poverty reduction, how to increase the participation of the poor in growth processes and whether pro-poor policies undermine or reinforce growth. These studies are intended to stimulate public discussion - they are not necessarily DFID or UK Government policy.