The impacts of rapid demographic transition on family structure and income inequality in Brazil, 1981–2011

Abstract

This study analysed the impact of changing family structure on income distribution. Specifically, it analysed how changes in the proportions of different categories of family in the population contributed to increases in the income of the richest and poorest social strata in Brazil, and the consequent impacts on income inequality. Rural and urban families were compared in order to understand how these dynamics had different impacts on more developed (urban) and less developed (rural) areas. The results emphasize how changes observed in family structure are more pronounced among the richest families, contributing to an increase in (i) the income of the richest families and (ii) income inequality between the richest and poorest families, as well as between urban and rural areas.

Keywords:

• demographic impact
• inequalities
• rural areas
• family and household
• living arrangements

Notes

1 Professor Alexandre Gori Maia and Camila Strobl Sakamoto are at the Institute of Economics, State University of Campinas, Rua Pitágoras, 353, Campinas/SP, CEP 13083–857, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected].

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination) [grant number 01-P-3942-2014].