Diário do Nordeste - 2/11/2011

The economic and social advances achieved in the country since the launch of the real plan on February 27, 1994, under the Itamar Franco government, are evident. Despite the achievements in the two segments, it is still necessary to develop policies that can ensure the stability of the economy and overcome the deficiencies in the social area, which still remain as real challenges. Thankfully, Brazil is the only country, a member of Bric, a group composed of Russia, India, China and South Africa, which registered economic growth, accompanied by a reduction in social inequalities, according to the study by Fundação Getúlio Vacancies - FGV . In the span of a decade, the real income per capita of the richest grew by 10%, while that of the poorest increased by 68%.

The survey shows that the income growth rate, of the richest 20%, in Brazil, is lower than that registered in Russia, India, China and South Africa. Despite the decrease in social inequalities, the Brazilian Social Security had a deficit of 2 billion, R $ 419 million, in May 2011, with a decline of 12,2% in relation to the same period in 2010. The accumulated result, from January to May 2011, registered a negative balance that totaled 17 billion, 622 million, according to the federal government. Paradoxically, the informal economy moved 663 billion in 2010, equivalent to 18,3% of GDP in the period. The research was carried out by the Brazilian Institute of Ethics in Competition, in partnership with the Fundação Getúlio Vacancies and was published on June 28, 2011. It is to be expected that, at the end of the Dilma administration, the population may actually have a better quality of life with the implementation of consistent economic and social projects, thus enabling national development in a sustainable manner, at all levels. It is what we hope, at least from now on, given that we can no longer believe in illusory promises from politicians, which has always happened over the years. Thankfully, we can already see greater political awareness among Brazilians.

Ivo Mendes is a journalist and lawyer