Atlas shows reduced inequalities in Brazil
According to the Atlas of Human Development in the Metropolitan Regions of Brazil, from 2000 to 2010, the 16 metropolitan regions surveyed were observed to reduce their differences and all reported a high human development index.
The progress seen in the socio-economic indicators in Brazil's metropolitan regions and the reduced disparities between the north and the south show an important improvement towards inequality reduction, said on Tuesday (25 Nov) Jorge Chediek, a representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brazil.
According to the Atlas of Human Development in the Metropolitan Regions of Brazil, from 2000 to 2010, the 16 metropolitan regions surveyed were observed to reduce their differences and all reported a high human development index. The study takes into consideration the Municipal Human Development Index. The Atlas is the result of the joint efforts of UNDP, the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), and the João Pinheiro Foundation, which is connected with the Minas Gerais state government.
Apart from metropolitan areas, 9,825 Human Development Units (HDUs) were analyzed. The concept of HDUs is close to that of neighborhoods.
Chediek pointed out that Brazil is counted among the countries that have demonstrated remarkable results in fighting poverty and inequality. “Brazil was one of the most unequal countries in the world. It still is very unequal, but indicators have improved considerably, and inequalities are seen as a downward trend. Our advice is to continue current policies and carry out an action that focuses on areas and populations which are still in need of public policies and employment.”
The Atlas further reveals that Brazil is a successful example of vulnerability reduction. “Efficient anti-cyclical policies have been adopted, active public policies for inequality reduction, conditional cash transfer, and overcoming poverty and extreme poverty,” the document reads.
In the view of Marcelo Neri, minister at the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs, the Atlas also discloses that the country still faces disparities, albeit on the wane.
In the view of Marcelo Neri, minister at the Secretariat of Strategic Affairs, the Atlas also discloses that the country still faces disparities, albeit on the wane. “The big leap was observed in education, which allows us to anticipate future improvements.”
According to Olinto Nogueira, research coordinator at the João Pinheiro Foundation, the biggest inequalities are found within municipalities, and not between them. “When we calculated the municipalities' HDIs, we saw that many indicators showed we were covering only 30% of the Brazilian inequalities. The major inequalities were within the municipalities.”
During Atlas's presentation, Ipea Planning and Research Technician Marco Aurélio Costa noted that the capital cities still report higher municipal HDIs than the municipalities surrounding them, but, he said, this difference has decreased. “The worst ones are getting closer to the best ones because they're presenting an improvement in the indicators for education. It's easier to improve when you're at a lower level than after you reach a certain level. The disparity is falling,” Nogueira explained.
The HDI is a number ranging from zero to one. The nearest the rate is to one, the larger is the human development in a state, municipality, metropolitan region, or UDH. In order to calculate the general index, three factors are taken into account: life expectancy, per capita income, and education.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Atlas shows reduced inequalities in Brazil
