Suchergebnisse

This paper investigates the effectiveness of the social security system as a rural antipoverty policy. The source of econometric identification is a Brazilian legislative change implemented in 1991 that reduced the minimum eligibility age, increased the benefits, and extended the participation to non-head of the household members. Our findings indicate that the reform has reduced the incidence of poverty by 40% in eligible households. ; This paper investigates the effectiveness of the social security system as a rural antipoverty policy. The source of econometric identification is a Brazilian legislative change implemented in 1991 that reduced the minimum eligibility age, increased the benefits, and extended the participation to non-head of the household members. Our findings indicate that the reform has reduced the incidence of poverty by 40% in eligible households.

This article analyzes the determinants of local institutions in Brazil. We show that institutional quality and distribution of land are partly inherited from the colonial histories experienced by different areas of the country. The sugar cane boom—characterized by an oligarchic society—is associated with more land inequality. The gold boom—characterized by a heavily inefficient presence of the Portuguese state—is associated with worse governance and access to justice. We do not find similar effects for a postcolonial boom (coffee). We also find that the colonial episodes are correlated with lower provision of public goods.

This paper analyzes the determinants of local institutions and distribution of political power within a constant 'macro-institutional' setting. We show that characteristics of Brazilian municipalities related to institutional quality and distribution of political power are partly inherited from the colonial histories experienced by different areas of the country. Municipalities with origins tracing back to the sugar-cane colonial cycle – characterized by a polarized and oligarchic socioeconomic structure – display today more inequality in the distribution of endowments (land). Municipalities with origins tracing back to the gold colonial cycle – characterized by a heavily inefficient presence of the Portuguese state – display today worse governance practices and less access to justice. The colonial rent-seeking episodes are also correlated with lower provision of public goods and lower income per capita.

This paper analyzes the determinants of local institutions and distribution of political power within a constant 'macro-institutional' setting. We show that characteristics of Brazilian municipalities related to institutional quality and distribution of political power are partly inherited from the colonial histories experienced by different areas of the country. Municipalities with origins tracing back to the sugar-cane colonial cycle characterized by a polarized and oligarchic socioeconomic structure display today more inequality in the distribution of endowments (land). Municipalities with origins tracing back to the gold colonial cycle characterized by a heavily inefficient presence of the Portuguese state display today worse governance practices and less access to justice. The colonial rent-seeking episodes are also correlated with lower provision of public goods and lower income per capita.