Educação, desigualdade de renda e ciclo econômico no Brasil

Abstract

This study is concerned with the evolution of the earnings distribution in Brazil from 1976 to 1985. Emphasys is given to the relationship between schooling and inequality, mainly through the inspection of the earnings differentials between skilled and non-skilled labor during the business cycle. The major conclusion is that education affects individual welfare in two ways: it helps to increase it by providing access to significantly higher labor earnings and also by reducing the uncertainty about future streams of income. Thus, a more egalitarian distribution of education contributes to reduce both static and dynamic earnings inequality.