Children in Brazil
Causes for
Poverty
Brazil embarked on a massive industrialization program in the 1950's to
end its dependence on foreign imports and to strengthen the internal
position of its economy. Many industrial cities were contrived, long
motorways were constructed, new industrial infrastructure was established,
and vast incentives and subsidies were given to modernize the agricultural
industry and encourage large industrial corporations. This leap to
industrialization resulted in 30 million adults and children leaving the
countryside
between 1960 and 1980, and rushing into the cities (Jubilee 1998). In
1940 there were approximately 41 million people in Brazil, as of 1998 the
population was estimated at 148 million, 74% of them living in urban
areas. The gap between the richest and the poorest in Brazilian society
is one of the largest: the wealthiest 1% earns more than the poorest 50%
(Jubilee, 1998). This statistic results in one out of every four people,
child or adult, is living below the UN's Absolute Poverty Line. This
massive industrialization process is the reason why many
families and children are forced into favelas,
or shantytowns, and into the streets.
References
Dimenstein,G. (1991).Brazilian War on Children, 1991.London:Latin
America Bureau.
Jubilee Campaign(1998,October 2). Brazilian Street Children Briefing
Paper.
This page was created by
Lindsay
Bodack | ,Stephanie Hunter | ,
Tom Kaufman | , and
Caitlin Kelly | as a
collaborative project at Tulane University | in the Children and
Society | class taught by Professor
Brayfield | . The purpose of these pages is to
educate the public
on
the plight of poverty stricken children in Brazil. To view other student
web pages please visit the Children
Around the World | website.
updated December 15, 1999