Poverty and Inequality in the Rural Brazilian Amazon: A Multidimensional Approach

Abstract

This paper analyses poverty and inequality dynamics among smallholders along the Transamazon High-way. We measure changes in poverty and inequality for original settlers and new owners, contrasting income-based with multidimensional indices of well-being. Our results show an overall reduction in both poverty and inequality among smallholders, although poverty decline was more pronounced among new owners, while inequality reduction was larger among original settlers. This trend suggests that families have an initial improvement in livelihood and well-being which tends to reach a limit later—a sign of structural limitations common to rural areas and maybe a replication of boom and bust trends in local economies among Amazonian municipalities. In addition, our multidimensional estimates of well-being reveal that some economically viable land use strategies of smallholders (e.g., pasture) may have important ecological implications for the regional landscape. These findings highlight the public policy challenges for fostering sustainable development among rural populations.

Boom-bust patterns in the Brazilian Amazon

“…The evidence to date on boom-bust patterns in the Amazon is mixed, with large scale, cross section quantitative analyses finding apparently strong evidence of a general inverted-U pattern (Rodrigues et al 2009, Celentano et al 2012, while a handful of longitudinal case studies fail to show any 'bust' phase in development (Sears et al 2007, Piñedo-Vasquez et al 2001, Guedes et al 2012, Hall and Caviglia-Harris 2013, Mangabeira 2010). Rodrigues et al (2009) in their very influential analysis divide a subset of Amazonian municipalities into one of seven categories based on a combination of the existing degree of land cleared in 2000 and the rate of deforestation over the previous three years.…”

“…Nevertheless, a number of case studies (for example Sears et al 2007, Piñedo-Vasquez et al 2001, Guedes et al 2012, Hall and Caviglia-Harris 2013, Mangabeira 2010) that have examined the dynamic trajectories of different Amazonian communities for between 7 to 22 years provide evidence not of boom-bust cycles, but instead either stable or continuing welfare improvements over time. Although a limited number of counter-examples cannot preclude the possibility that boom-bust cycles happen elsewhere, or indeed are the more general phenomenon, the case studies do raise some doubt about the robustness of the cross sectional analyses and definitively show that such dynamic patterns are not inevitable.…”

An assessment of urban vulnerability in the Amazon Delta and Estuary: a multi-criterion index of flood exposure, socio-economic conditions and infrastructure

“…In addition, the population growth and the intensification of human activities are not accompanied by the implementation of the basic infrastructure required to support sustainable development and human well-being. As with other tropical deltas, urban infrastructure is lacking, medical care is deficient, employment is limited and urban population are subjected to periodic floods (Costa and Brondizio 2011;Guedes et al 2012). Population growth exacerbates the lack of infrastructure and economic opportunities in these urban spaces (Costa et al 2011).…”

Mudanças climáticas e mitigação no setor florestal: REDD+, políticas nacionais e desenvolvimento sustentável local na Amazônia Legal

“…(SERRA;FERNANDES, 2004). Os diferentes padrões nos níveis de desenvolvimento na Amazônia Legal devem ser continuamente explorados, oferecendo suporte para políticas públicas que visam a promoção da sustentabilidade e a redução do desmatamento na região (SATHLER, 2009;GUEDES et al, 2012 …”