Income Distribution and Social Expenditure in Brazil

Benedict Clements

No 1997/120, IMF Working Papers from International Monetary Fund

Abstract: This paper examines trends in income distribution in Brazil and the determinants of income inequality, including social expenditure. While recent data reveal reduced income inequality since the Real Plan of July 1994, the distribution of income is still among the most unequal in the world. Among the most important determinants of income inequality in Brazil is extreme disparity in educational attainment levels. Public expenditures on education, health, and social insurance have tended to exacerbate income inequality. A number of options for improving the equity and efficiency of Brazilian social expenditure merit further examination.

Keywords: WP; Brazil; government; Gini coefficient; expenditure level; average earnings; reform package; expenditure figure; social insurance expenditure; per capita income; low income income group; length of service; higher education expenditure; attainment level; inter-state range; primary education outlay; Income; Income distribution; Income inequality; South Asia; East Asia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33
Date: 1997-09-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:imf:imfwpa:1997/120

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