Unequal Development and Labour in Brazil

Reviews / Votes

This book is the result of a long-term and thorough collaborative research project that
needs to be praised. [...] I would recommend the reading of this book as a priority for all social scientists
interested by the economic, social, and political situation of Brazil and its Northeast region
but also, more widely, to all those working on development policies, regional inequality
issues and the determinant role of labour market and employment conditions to reduce
poverty.

Jean-Luc Maurer, Honorary Professor in Development Studies, The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva

This fine book provides an assessment and analysis of the pattern of unequal development in Brazil, with specific reference to Brazil's Northeast region, which has historically been significantly less developed and poorer than other regions. It is a fascinating, rich and insightful account of both the historical processes that contributed to the "persistent disadvantage" of this region compared with other parts of Brazil, as well as a careful and penetrating analysis of recent policies that either reduced this disadvantage (during the 2003-14 period) or once again led to increasing inequalities (in the period after 2016, in particular). Clearly, therefore, this book will be essential reading for anyone concerned with Brazil's economic development and the living conditions of its people, especially in the Northeast. In fact, the book is much more than that and deserves an even wider audience, providing an object lesson in how to study inequality, both horizontal and vertical. The thoughtful political economy approach and the recognition of the intermingling of different forces are both admirable.

Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

This book, authored by Gerry Rodgers, Roberto Veras de Oliveira and Janine Rodgers, is destined to become a reference in both Brazilian and international debates on the country's Northeast region. It covers a wide range of themes and issues related to the dilemmas of unequal social and economic development, seen through the lens of labour regimes and with focus on the Northeast, a persistently disadvantaged region in Brazil. [...] Readers will find particularly interesting the conclusions in Chapter 5, especially Section 3, which discusses issues and scenarios for a possible less unequal future. As can be seen, this book is a must-read.

Adalberto Cardoso, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Journal of Latin American Studies (2025), 1-3