Social vulnerability in Brazil down 27% after 10-year span

Brazil's Social Vulnerability Index plunged 27% from 2000 to 2010, bringing the nation from high to medium social vulnerability. Figures were released today (Sep. 1) by the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea).

According to Ipea's Social Vulnerability Atlas of Brazilian Municipalities, the number of cities with a high or very high social vulnerability level dropped from 3,610 in 2000 to 1,981 in 2010. Municipalities with a low or very low rate went from 638 to 2,326 in the same period.

The term social vulnerability refers to the absence or shortage of resources or structure—like income flow, appropriate housing conditions, and education services—which should be available to every citizen. The rate is made public in an attempt to raise awareness among policy makers about the needs facing the population in each area.

The document reveals that the factor that had the greatest impact on reducing the country's social vulnerability involves income and employment. All indicators encompassing income insecurity and poor labor relations saw an improvement between 2000 and 2010, which reflects, according to the study, a reduction in informal jobs, child labor, and a rise in employment.

The change, according to the survey, was clearer to be seen in some states in the Central-West, the North (most notably in Tocantins), and the Northeast (especially southern Bahia, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, and eastern Pernambuco).

“Brazil's social policies amount to a huge effort. This effort yielded results. And it's important to preserve the social policies so we can keep making progress and turn into a less unjust and unequal society,” said Ipea Director Marco Aurélio Costa.

The Atlas shows, however, that regional discrepancies remain, with a large number of highly vulnerable municipalities in the North (Acre, Amazonas, Pará, Amapá, and Rondônia) and the Northeast (chiefly Maranhão, Alagoas, and Pernambuco, apart from areas in Bahia).

“In an equal country such as ours, which, despite all the advancements, still shows medium social vulnerability, the problem of structural social vulnerability remains unsolved. Brazil simply cannot develop into a slightly fairer country if social policies are not advanced,” Costa concluded.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira