Social security in a long living society: Brazilian experience in the Latin American context

Findings include:

• in contrast to statements made in the mainstream debate during the 1990s, Brazilian social security had positive effects on the economy and reduced poverty. The measures contained in the 1988 Constitution, although severely criticized, can be considered an example to be analysed by other developing countries to build socially stable long living societies
• the effects of the redistribution led by social security's system were positive, increasing the revenues of the poorest and reducing the pressures on the metropolitan area
• however, the level of coverage is falling and the social situation in the country is likely to deteriorate even further due to the effects of the economic reforms. The insistence on maintaining a debate that stimulates full and individual capitalisation is highly questionable, in view of the poor results obtained by Latin American countries, and is a source of great concern

The report concludes that in order to maintain a system aimed at inclusion it is a necessary condition for the country to resume its possibilities for sustainable development in a long living society, which is still the main problem plaguing Brazilian society. In this regard, the mistakes of the past, which sought to promote the concentration of income to guarantee higher growth of the GNP, must be avoided.