Uma análise crítica da nova classe média no governo Lula

Abstract

The great expansion of class C is considered by many scholars as a phenomenon that gave rise to the emergence of a new Brazilian middle class under Lula. The increase in the average income of the population and the expansion of consumption of low-income families triggered an economic process of mobility in income segments of the base of the social pyramid, and the expansion of social spending and targeted policies for strengthening the internal market are the root causes of this process. Among these policies, the ones most impacted the level of consumption of the lower classes was the real value of the minimum wage coupled with the increase in formal jobs, the expansion of credit to individuals and expansion of income transfer programs. This shows that the growth phenomenon of class C is linked to the cyclical policies to stimulate domestic demand, supporting the argument that this segment did not ascend in fact the middle class. Thus, this work presents the divergent views of the two authors of this phenomenon: Marcelo Neri, who makes an apology of the emergence of the new middle class, and Márcio Pochmann, defending the argument that the modernization of the consumption pattern of the population of low income brought about, in fact, a new working class. Thus, the analysis of the factors which have worsened consumption class C, which went on to acquire more durable consumer goods and services, reveals that this segment is still far from the level of the middle class quality of life, whose members are well paid occupations, in addition to the increased consumption of goods and services, mainly give you access to better housing, education and health.