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Gendering the crisis: austerity and the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Luíza Matos Oliveira

    (FLACSO-Brazil)

  • Magali N. Alloatti

    (Independent researcher)

Abstract

In this article, by showing that the burden of retrenchment in social spending in Brazil has been overwhelmingly borne by women, we assert that austerity is not gender neutral. Our research investigates the specificities of the gendered impacts of austerity in the country that have rendered Brazilian women structurally more vulnerable to the Covid-19 crisis. We base our argument on a comprehensive literature review summarizing the links between austerity and gender. In the Brazilian case, we explain women’s vulnerability in two main aspects: (1) the direct and indirect gendered impacts of austerity in Brazil since 2015, examining the underfunding of policies prior to the pandemic; (2) the gendered effects of the pandemic on already vulnerable groups, amplified by the underfunded policies and the lack of appropriate measures. We show points of proximity between the existing literature on austerity and gender in the Global North and the urgent, structural Brazilian problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Luíza Matos Oliveira & Magali N. Alloatti, 2022. "Gendering the crisis: austerity and the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 39(1), pages 203-224, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:39:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s40888-021-00243-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-021-00243-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tindara ADDABBO & Amélia BASTOS & Sara Falcão CASACA & Nata DUVVURY & Áine NÍ LÉIME, 2015. "Gender and labour in times of austerity: Ireland, Italy and Portugal in comparative perspective," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 154(4), pages 449-473, December.
    2. Antón, José-Ignacio & Muñoz de Bustillo, Rafael, 2013. "Public-private sector wage differentials in Spain. An updated picture in the midst of the Great Recession," MPRA Paper 48897, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Alicia Girón & Eugenia Correa, 2016. "Post-Crisis Gender Gaps: Women Workers and Employment Precariousness," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 471-477, April.
    4. Cristiano Perugini & Jelena Žarković Rakić & Marko Vladisavljević, 2019. "Austerity and gender inequalities in Europe in times of crisis," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 43(3), pages 733-767.
    5. Hélène PÉRIVIER, 2018. "Recession, austerity and gender: A comparison of eight European labour markets," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 157(1), pages 1-37, March.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Austerity; Public policy; Gender inequality; Covid-19 pandemic; Brazil; Welfare;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • N36 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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