Inequality in crisis and recovery : revealing the divides: the case of Brazil

Discusses the effects of two recent economic crises, 1998-1999 and 2008-2009, on gender and racial inequalities in Brazil. Argues that the effects of these crises on qualitative aspects of employment such as wages and employment status have been unequally felt by women and blacks in Brazilian society. Shows that during and following the 2008-2009 global economic crisis, quantitative aspects of employment, namely employment and unemployment rates, improved for women and blacks. Demonstrates also that the negative differentiated impacts on qualitative aspects of employment that were visible in the 1998-1999 crisis on women and blacks were not as severe. Links this difference in the impacts of the two crises to social policy interventions such as pension, social transfer and minimum wage revaluation programmes largely implemented in the intercrisis period. Using data on the recent global economic crisis, argues that due to multiple discriminations, black women in particular continue to hold a disadvantaged position in the Brazilian labour market and broader society, and are thus particularly vulnerable to economic shocks. Provides further evidence that decreased levels of inequality in the labour market help to protect vulnerable groups from the disparate impacts of crises, and strengthen larger efforts to combat poverty.