WP/103 Poverty in the Eyes of Brazilian Elites
This paper discusses data from a survey and in-depth interviews on elite perceptions of poverty in Brazil. De Swaan tried to identify the circumstances under which elites are willing to mobilize resources in order to promote poverty reduction. This paper questions if de Swaan’s analysis applies to Brazil. The main finding is that two parts of de Swaan’s thesis do apply: that poverty is a problem for the rich in the sense that it generates negative externalities that they would like to reduce; and that the elite believe that there are effective remedies. What is missing for Brazilian elites is the third element, namely that the elite see poverty as their responsibility to do something about it.
- Publisher:
- UNU-WIDER
- Series:
- WIDER Working Paper
- Volume:
- 2010/103
- Title:
- WP/103 Poverty in the Eyes of Brazilian Elites
- Authors:
- Elisa P. Reis
- Publication date:
- September 2010
- ISBN 13 Web:
- 978-92-9230-340-2
- Copyright holder:
- © UNU-WIDER
- Copyright year:
- 2010
- Keywords:
- elites, poverty, economic sociology, political culture
- JEL:
- Z13
- Project:
- The Role of Elites in Economic Development
- Sponsor:
- UNU-WIDER gratefully acknowledges the financial contributions to the research programme by the governments of Denmark (Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Finland (Ministry for Foreign Affairs), Sweden (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency—Sida) and the United Kingdom (Department for International Development—DFID).
- Format:
- online and printed copies