Análise dos Retornos à Educação da Classe Média Brasileira entre 1991 e 2010

Abstract

The increase in income among the Brazilian population from 2000 onward and the recent reduction of social inequality, has provoked a broad discussion regarding the criteria of labeling the different social classes. Ultimately, how to make sense of this enigma that is the population which most benefited from an increase in income? It is known that the vast majority of the population living in extreme poverty has been able to cross this poverty line and simply become poor . But, does this population that was poor and had its income increased, now belong to the middle class ? Or can we go beyond this and label them as the new middle class , with specific characteristics? Or perhaps, define them as working class , once their standard of living is sufficiently improved compared to what it was previously, to include them in a separate category? This study has the objective of discussing the consequences facing this population over the years. Beyond an increase in income, what this population does - the new middle class , to be characterized as such and the structure that is involved. This social class earns more, consumes more, however, also needs to have access to education, basic sanitation, electricity, water, among many other necessities. This paper proposes a definition of social classes that includes factors such as consumer goods and family structure. From this outline, will be analyzed the determining factors leading to this increase in income, specifically education for the heads of households in Brazil s new middle class between 1991 and 2010. Among the results obtained will be the period from 2000 onward - the results of education, after being given a higher priority and continuing as such over the following years, for men and women of this new middle class. However, in 2010, this return, despite continuing to be relatively high, fell significantly in various aspects regarding the distribution of salaries/income in comparison to previous years. Beyond this, it was perceived that the lower middle class had in general, a return in education higher than the upper middle class, taking into account that the heads of households - were just as often female as they were male. Another finding was that professions in the areas of science, arts and management - generally required the highest levels of qualification, since they also had the highest financial returns. While occupations in the service and retail industries, requiring fewer qualifications, had the lowest returns.