Persistent and very high-income inequality is a well-known feature of the Brazilian economy. However, from 2001 to 2014, the Gini index registered an unprecedented fall of 13.5% percent, combined with significant poverty reduction. Previous studies using partial equilibrium analysis have pointed out the important role of federal government transfer programs in this Bolsa Familia (PBF) and Beneficio de Prestacao Continuada (BPC), in achieving their purpose of alleviating poverty and reducing inequality in Brazils income distribution. The simulation results, using an integrated modeling approach, confirm the importance of these programs in reducing inequality from 2003 to 2005. However, the effect on poverty alleviation was not strong. Finally, the methodological approach reveals some important mechanisms that were not present in previous analyses, such as the role of the tax structure that finances these policies.

A persistent and very high-income inequality is a well known feature of the Brazilian economy. However, from 2001 to 2005 the Gini index presented an unprecedented fall of 4.6 percent combined with significant poverty reduction. Previous studies using partial equilibrium analysis have pointed out the importance of federal government transfer programs in this inequality reduction. The aim of this research is to evaluate the efficiency of the two most important cash transfer programs, “Bolsa Familia” and “BPC”, in achieving their purpose of alleviating poverty and reducing the inequality in Brazil’s income distribution using an integrated modeling approach, the CGE-MS model. The simulation results confirm the importance of these programs in reducing inequality from 2003 to 2005. However, the effect on poverty alleviation was not strong. Finally, the methodological approach allows the identification of some important economic facts that were not presented in previous analyses, such as the issue of taxation structure that finances these policies.

A persistent and very high-income inequality is well known feature of the Brazilian economy. However, from 2001 to 2005 the Gini index presented an unprecedented fall of -4.6% combined with a significant poverty reduction. Former studies using partial equilibrium analysis have pointed out the importance of federal government transfer programs for this inequality reduction. The aiming of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of the two most important cash transfer programs, Bolsa Familia and BPC, in achieving their purposes of alleviating poverty and reducing the inequality in Brazil's income distribution using an integrated modeling approach, CGE-MS model. The simulation results confirm the importance of these programs to reduce inequality during 2003-2005. But, the effect on poverty alleviation was not strong. Finally, the methodological approach allows the identification of some important economic facts that were not presented in previous analysis, such as the issue of taxation structure that finances these policies.

This paper aims to investigate the magnitude of the underestimation of household income by the Pnad and its potential effects on the measurement of the level and the evolution of Brazilian income inequality. For that, we compare the data from Pnad with the data from the Household Expenditure Survey (POF) and the National Accounting System (NAS). The analysis is made in three steps. First, we evaluate the underestimation degree of total household income by the Pnad. Second, we simulate the impacts of this underestimation on income inequality measurement. Finally, we analyze in what extent household income underestimation affects the estimation of income inequality variation between 2001 and 2003. The results suggest that even though household income underestimation by the Pnad is high, income inequality underestimation is not substantial. Additionally, we find no evidence that household income underestimation by the Pnad implies an overestimation of the income inequality fall in the recent period.

Pesquisas domiciliares com representatividade nacional são mundialmente utilizadas como a principal fonte de informações para estudos sobre a desigualdade de renda. O Brasil não constitui uma exceção e a maior parte dos estudos existentes na literatura nacional apóiase na Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (Pnad), coletada anualmente pelo IBGE. 1Apesar da qualidade e da abrangência da Pnad, 2 essa pesquisa apresenta algumas limitações na mensuração da renda–comuns às pesquisas domiciliares de maneira geral–que dificultam a análise da desigualdade de renda. Tais restrições decorrem essencialmente da dificuldade, por parte dessas pesquisas, de captar adequadamente algumas fontes de renda, tais como a renda não-monetária dos pequenos agricultores, o rendimento de ativos e as rendas mais voláteis ou eventuais, que compreendem, por exemplo, ganhos com loterias …

This research intends to assess the efficiency of the Governmental income transfer programs in achieving their purposes of alleviating poverty and reducing the inequality in income distribution in Brazil. After evaluating the impacts of the current programs, we also intend to simulate the effects of alternative designs for these programs in order to generate proposals that can be used as inputs that can help to improve the income transfer programs in achieving their purposes in a more strong and effective way.

The study aims at evaluating the impacts of alternative formula-based tariff reduction of nonagricultural goods on Brazilian economy using a computable general equilibrium model. It were simulated the implementation of Swiss formula tariff cut, considering different coefficients. The simulations were carried out with the GTAP model and all tariff shocks were calculated from MAcMap database. Besides analyzing macroeconomic and sectoral results, it also was have tested the sensibility of the result regarding Armington elasticities increase and the implementation of a simultaneous agricultural tariff liberalization.

O Objetivo deste Estudo e Avaliar os Impactos da Entrada da Venezuela no Mercosul Utilizando para Tanto o Modelo de Equilibrio Geral Computavel Multi-Setorial e Multi-Regional Denominado Global Trade Analysis Project (Gtap). Alem da Introducao, o Estudo Esta Dividido em Outras 5 Secoes. na Secao 2, sao Analisados os Documentos Mais Relevantes Assinados Pelos Estados-Parte, Ressaltando a Relativa Rapidez da Assinatura do Acordo de Adesao da Venezuela ao Bloco; na Secao 3, Descreve-Se o Estado Atual do Fluxo de Comercio entre Venezuela e Mercosul, Assim como as Condicoes de Acesso a Mercados, Ressaltando a Importância da Venezuela para o Mercosul e a Protecao Ligeiramente Maior Aplicada Pela Economia Venezuelana Quando Comparada com a do Mercosul. na Secao Seguinte, Descrevem-Se os Choques Tarifarios Implementados em Tres Simulacoes, Representativas da Adesao da Venezuela ao Mercosul, Alem de Hipoteses de Fechamento do Modelo. na Secao 5, os Resultados da Simulacao sao Apresentados e Discutidos. Sinteticamente, Chama-Se A Atencao para o Aumento de Bem Estar nos Paises Envolvidos e o Significativo Impacto Setorial, Especialmente nos Setores de Automoveis, Maquinas e Equipamentos e Texteis e Vestuario. uma Ultima Secao Sumaria as Principais Conclusoes do Trabalho.

This paper presents an evaluation of the economic impacts from the taxation reform of PIS/PASEP and COFINS that started to be collected by two regimes (cumulative and non-cumulative) associated to domestic flows and to levy imports. The evaluation made with a computable general equilibrium model adapted to new fiscal system characteristics indicates that the effects of this reform would have deteriorated macroeconomic, labor market and welfare indicators.

The study aims at evaluating the impacts of alternative formula-based tariff r eduction of non- agricultural goods on Brazilian economy using a computable general equilibrium model. It were simulated the implementation o f Swiss formula tariff cut, considering different coefficients. The simulations were carried o ut with the GTAP model and all tariff shocks were calculated from MAcMap d atabase. Besides analyzing macroeconomic and sectoral results, it also was have tested the sensibility of the result regarding Armington elasticities increase and the implementation of a simultaneous agricultural tariff liberalization.

O estudo visa avaliar os impactos de propostas alternativas de reducao da protecao tarifaria de bens nao-agricolas sobre a economia brasileira usando um modelo de equilibrio geral computavel. Foram simulados os impactos da implementacao de cortes tarifarios de acordo com diferentes coeficientes para a formula Suica. As simulacoes foram realizadas com o modelo GTAP e todos os choques tarifarios foram calculados a partir de informacoes da base de dados MacMap. Alem de analisar resultados macroeconomicos e setoriais, tambem foi testada a sensibilidade dos resultados em relacao ao aumento das elasticidades de Armington e a ocorrencia de uma simultânea liberalizacao de tarifas sobre bens agricolas.

This paper presents a Computable General Equilibrium model specified to simulate the policy impacts on income distribution in Brazil, with complex and systemic propagation methods. To capture the distributive impacts, the model adopts a design focused on the separation of production and institutional factors, as labor and households. The model has three blocks: product and factor markets, and a block that handles with income transfers among institutions. The labor market specification incorporates a recent theoretical advance that allows the determination of involuntary unemployment in the equilibrium. The third block specifies the distribution of the value added among production factors and the redistribution of income among agents/institutions. The simulations of a partial economic "closure" show modest welfare reduction for most workers and families. Also, we checked that the homogeneity property of the model holds only with full indexation of all income transfers, which has important implications for the income distribution process modeling.

The available estimations about the effect of minimum wage on poverty relies on partial equilibrium analysis. We estimate these effects in Brazil through a general equilibrium framework, dealing with lots of indirect effects of minimum wage. Using a computable general equilibrium model we simulate the poverty level in Brazil if only minimum wage have changed. Our results shows that an increase on minimum wage increases, although slightly, the poverty level, when the social security benefits are not adjusted. However the poverty level tend to decrease when these benefits are adjusted.