Social Conditions In Brazil Research Paper

How are social conditions in Brazil related to, and affected by, economic circumstances?

Introduction

The situation regarding social conditions in Brazil has always been complex. Issues have not aroused in the spur of a moment, rather been built up over decades. Some severe problems include education, sexuality and family relations. These, in turn, have been affected by many exterior factors, such as economic circumstances. The combination of these has led to a divided society with a high rate of poverty. We find ourselves facing an intractable net of interwoven problems where it is no longer possible to distinguish what influences what. One issue leads to another, and to solve one, one must address the other.

General information
Statistics were gathered by questioning inhabitants of three of the most troubled areas in the Northeast, as the Northeast is the home of 50% of Brazils poor. The areas visited were Autran Nunes, Edson Queiroz and Pirambú. During a lapse of 10 days, 15 different interviewers, spread out equally over the areas, questioned around 1500 people. The main focus of the survey is youngsters between the ages of 10 and 24, but to be able to compare the past and present, a little less then half of those who have been questioned are adults over the age of 24. The survey questionnaire addressed five different areas: socio-economic background, education, health and sexuality, social capital and violence, and employment and economic activity. Although some topics might seem sensitive, it was believed they needed to be addressed as they may have a large impact on the way of life in poorer areas and addressing them could help tackle various social problems. The results of the extensive research and interview process were accumulated into tabulations clearly showing the situation in Northeast Brazil today, and the way it has changed, according to its inhabitants. The data includes the risks of low education attainment, widespread hunger, engaging in sexual activities at an early age, extensive drug use, commonly experienced violence, lack in accumulating little social capital and high level of
Whilst this applies to some extent, as a weak economy leads to tighter budgets, problems still remained after the crisis was over. The number of wealthy has increased, but so has the number of people living in poverty as stated in Paes de Barros, Mendoncas and Rochas report. In 1970, 0,4 individuals, by per capita income, were in the first decile and 49,3 in the ninth. By 1990, these numbers had increased to 0,7 in the first decile and 51,4 in the ninth (Paes de Barros, Mendonça and Rocha). This clearly shows that the gap between the richer and poorer has widened. As previously mentioned, the situation has also developed in the wealthier living in skyscrapers and the poorer in sheds. The situation can be so due to the fact that the poorer part of the population simply could not keep up with the high rate of development. When Brazil began to recover from the economic crisis in 1980, a class difference developed where the richer could afford to live in cities and the poorer were left behind. The problem has been addressed, one economic solution amongst many being the implementation of cash-transfer programs. However, the studies conducted by Verner and Alda regarding these programs in North-eastern Brazil revealed that the programs only reached out to 24 percent of those in need, which means that other ways to