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Anatomy of the Brazilian middle class: identification, behaviours and expectations

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  • Clément, Matthieu
  • Fauré, Yves-André
  • Berrou, Jean-Philippe
  • Combarnous, François
  • Darbon, Dominique

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the composition of the Brazilian middle class and its main behaviours and expectations. Combining a quantitative analysis based on the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) and a qualitative survey carried out among households belonging to the middle class, it reveals the following characteristics. First, the Brazilian middle class is heterogeneous and a substantial part of it remains vulnerable to poverty. Second, the middle class exhibits consumer behaviour largely sustained by credit. Third, in terms of expectations, the Brazilian middle class prioritizes health, education, security and housing and is particularly critical of the quality of public services, all the more so as it faces a high tax burden. While the upper middle class is able to bypass these failures via private services, the most vulnerable elements of the middle class remain very dependent on these low-quality public services.

Suggested Citation

  • Clément, Matthieu & Fauré, Yves-André & Berrou, Jean-Philippe & Combarnous, François & Darbon, Dominique, 2020. "Anatomy of the Brazilian middle class: identification, behaviours and expectations," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), April.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecr:col070:45979
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    Cited by:

    1. Sebastien Carrere & Clement Mathieu & Francois Combarnous & Gabriel Kessker & Eric Rougier & Ariel Wilkis, 2022. "The middle class in Argentina: Dynamics, characteristics and implications for public policies," Post-Print hal-03773031, HAL.
    2. Eric Rougier & Jean‐Philippe Berrou & Matthieu Clément & François Combarnous & Dominique Darbon, 2021. "Should we call it a (middle) class? A socio‐economic exploration of the Vietnamese middle‐income group," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(8), pages 1321-1345, November.
    3. Burger,Martijn & Hendriks,Martijn & Ianchovichina,Elena, 2022. "Anatomy of Brazil’s Subjective Well-Being : A Tale of Growing Discontent and Polarization in the 2010s," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9924, The World Bank.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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