Brazil in Focus

Brazil shrinks the wealth gap

by Marcelo Côrtes Neri
Long known and criticized for its world beating gap between rich and poor, Brazil has seen income inequality decline to record levels in recent years. This is the mirror opposite of the picture in almost every other country in the world where income inequality spiked before the global economic crisis, receded briefly during the downtown, and now is on the rise again. This is the case in China and India, where simultaneous economic booms lifted the poor but helped the rich even more, widening social inequality. It was also the story of Brazil during the 1960s.

Brazil's social priorities need rescuing

by Roberto DaMatta
In Brazil, emergency is a word with many meanings, most of which reveal the deepest dimensions of local culture. If an Englishman screams "Help!" he is immediately helped. If a U.S. airlines, whether small or large, receives a request for an emergency ticket - this has happened with me - a seat will promptly be granted. In both places, words like help, danger, aid, emergency, and expressions such as "life or death" wield the power to suspend the daily routine and trigger effective responses. No one needs to be reminded that the ensuing attention and assistance must be immediate.

 

Photographer Ricardo Azoury explores the gemstone mines of Minas Gerais where dreams of fortune still fire the imaginations of today's garimpeiros.

Padre Marcelo is Rome's secret weapon

by Mac Margolis
Father Marcelo Rossi is hard to miss. Standing 1.94 meters and wearing solid black under the standard issue padre's collar, he emerges from the baggage claim at Rio de Janeiro's intown airport to a foyer of stares. With a Teflon smile he evades the gawkers and cell phone paparazzi and beelines through the lobby to a hired car nearby. Rossi's no snob. He's overdue at a book launching at the mall in São Gonçalo, a working class city across Rio's bay, where thousands of faithful have been massing since before daybreak. 

As Brazil booms Catholicism loses ground

by Marcelo Côrtes Neri

Back in August, during the World Youth Day gathering in Madrid, Pope Benedict XVI had an important message for faith in changing times. The 2013 edition of the Roman Catholic world's biggest pilgrimage, he announced, would be held in Rio de Janeiro. Little surprise there. Brazil not only is home to Rome's largest flock but also the only Catholic BRIC. Its economy is on track to overtake France's, the Old World's Catholic powerhouse.