Economic Development, Social Change and Population Problems in Brazil

This article deals with significant aspects of social change in modern Brazil and particularly with the main demographic implications. Brazil's society is changing—old patterns persist, but do not prevail; new patterns are present, but are not dominant. The social change is the result of the transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy, from a rural to an urban society, and from a parochial to a more secular way of life. Emerging social classes include an urban proleteriat, a middle class, and a bourgeoisie of merchants and industrial ists. The government is exercising great efforts to accelerate the rate of eco nomic development of the country. An important feature of Brazil's demogra phy is the high rate of natural increase in the population due mainly to the high birth rate and declining death rate, particularly in infant mortality—Ed.