The Economist has a survey on Brazil.
The gap between Brazilians’ dreams and their reality is enormous. Although by international definitions Brazil is a middle-income rather than a poor country, its glaringly unequal income distribution means that the poorest 50% account for 10% of national income – and so do the richest 1%. Brazil’s educational performance has, until very recently, been dismal. Despite recent improvements in environmental health standards, 19% of households still lack running water. Poor communities on the peripheries of Brazil’s cities suffer from a plague of violent crimes.
Much of the hope for a new and prosperous future lies on Brazil’s new president, Lula da Silva.
