Análise do Gasto da União em Ações Assistenciais ou Focalizado na População Pobre e em Benefícios Previdenciários de Fortes Impactos Sociais: 1995-2004

This paper analyses the federal expenses in assistential programs, besides the retirement benefits with strong social impact (up to one minimum wage), between 1995 and 2004. These expenses rose from 13,3% of Net Revenue in 2000 to 15,4% in 2004. Between the population group beneficiated, there was an increase in actions focused on poor people ? from 9% of this expense in 2000 to 38% in 2004), implying a consequent decrease in the participation expenses focused on elderly people, people with special needs and children. Concerning the way the government has acted, it has reinforced the already high participation of the income transfers programs, increasing them from 60% of this expense in 2000 to 83% in 2004 and, at the same time, reducing assistential services. Considering public finance questions, the increasing path of this expense can be a problem, due to the current tax burden to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and to the difficulty to reduce other expenses and investments. Finally, a high increase in income transfers programs and a reduction in assistential services can exclude some population group from the Brazilian welfare policy and emphasize the problems indicated by the economic literature.