Publication: Brazil Human Capital Review: Investing in People
Loading...
Files
468 downloads
63 downloads
43 downloads
78 downloads
120 downloads
Date
2022-06-30
ISSN
Published
2022-06-30
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
How much talent is lost in Brazil because of unideal education and health conditions The Brazil Human Capital Review is part of the Human Capital Project, a global initiative of the World Bank Group that aims to raise attention on the importance of investing in people. Its focus relies on the conditions hindering children to flourish their potential labor productivity in Brazil. As a first step, this report proposes the Human Capital Index (HCI) to estimate the expected productivity of a child born today by the age of 18 when education and health conditions remain unaltered. Or simply, the HCI estimates the productivity level of the next generation of works. The results are alarming. How can Brazil recover from a decade lost in terms of human capital formation Mitigating the effects of the pandemic should be a priority. In the short-term, recommendations include: (a) adapt and strengthen policies already in place that have proven effects on human capital; (b) use the national conditional cash transfer program to support those more heavily affected by the pandemic; and (c) set as utmost priority a learning recovery and acceleration plan for the coming years.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2022. Brazil Human Capital Review: Investing in People. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/37626 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Better Jobs in Central America : The Role of Human Capital(Washington, DC, 2012-05)The biggest challenge in terms of jobs in Central America is to create better conditions to stimulate more productive job creation in the context of a rapidly growing labor force. Overcoming this challenge will contribute to reducing poverty, inequality and social exclusion which are so entrenched in the Central American countries. To achieve this goal, Central America needs to address a two-pronged policy. First, the region must implement policies that help farmers and workers to move up the value chain, which means in some cases diversify the production structure by increasing the share of industry and services, and in other cases, it should improve the technological content and knowledge of existing activities to make them more productive (for example, agriculture). The paper is organized as follows: Section II describes the origin of the recent growth of the region and its impact on the labor market. Section III discusses the challenges of human capital faced by the region, and Sections IV and V provide governments with policy options for consideration.Publication Uganda - Promoting Inclusive Growth : Transforming Farms, Human Capital, and Economic Geography, Synthesis Report(Washington, DC, 2012-02)At an average above 6.0 percent per year over the past two decades, Uganda' s growth rate was impressive by all standards. In parallel, poverty declined significantly, not only in urban areas, but also to some extent within the rural areas. This combination was possible because the key drivers of growth were labor-intensive services sectors, some of which are agriculture based. In fact, Uganda's growth process has reduced overall poverty faster than what has been observed in many other developing countries. This report addresses the issue from a double perspective: sectoral and geographical. From a sectoral perspective, it concludes that the agricultural sector needs transformation because it remains the primary employer; it is the country's main comparative advantage and bedrock for industrialization. More broadly, identifying sectors with potential will be important for employment opportunities, which in turn will be largely dependent on productivity levels and thus on the level of education and skills of the labor force. From a geographical perspective, transformation generally yields a concentration of economic activities that leaves some locations lagging in prosperity. This unbalanced growth needs to be supported with appropriate economic integration policies that have been analyzed in the report.Publication Economic Freedom, Human Rights, and the Returns to Human Capital : An Evaluation of the Schultz Hypothesis(2010-08-01)According to T.W. Schultz, the returns to human capital are highest in economic environments experiencing unexpected price, productivity, and technology shocks that create "disequilibria." In such environments, the ability of firms and individuals to adapt their resource allocations to shocks becomes most valuable. In the case of negative shocks, government policies that mitigate the impact of the shock will also limit the returns to the skills of managing risk or adapting resources to changing market forces. In the case of positive shocks, government policies may restrict access to credit, labor, or financial markets in ways that limit reallocation of resources toward newly emerging profitable sectors. This paper tests the hypothesis that the returns to skills are highest in countries that allow individuals to respond to shocks. Using estimated returns to schooling and work experience from 122 household surveys in 86 developing countries, this paper demonstrates a strong positive correlation between the returns to human capital and economic freedom, an effect that is observed throughout the wage distribution. Economic freedom benefits those workers who have attained the most schooling as well as those who have accumulated the most work experience.Publication Uruguay : Sources of Growth, Policies for the Development of Human Capital, Integration, Competition and Innovation(Washington, DC, 2005-06)Uruguay, with a prosperity built on beef and other meat exports, was among the fastest-growing economies in the world at the turn of the twentieth century. In parallel with economic successes driven by exports under a liberal trade regime, early in the 20th century, Uruguay had already initiated a strong and efficient welfare state. By contrast, the slowdown in per capita GDP growth has been more severe in the past 40 years (over 1961-99 per capita GDP growth averaged 1.1 percent, which is two-thirds of the rate achieved by Latin America) - except in the nineties when Uruguay (temporarily) grew at a faster rate than the region. In the 1961-1999 period, the rate of growth was less than half that of industrial countries, and less than one-fourth of that of East Asia. Uruguay must consolidate its incipient economic recovery following a prolonged, and deep recession: the economy shrank 17 percent, and household incomes dropped over 20 percent in real terms over 1999-2003. Notwithstanding, the economy bounced back strongly since mid-2003, and GDP growth in 2004 is estimated at 12.3 percent; the level of unemployment fell from almost 20 percent at the end of 2002, to 12.1 percent at the end of 2004. However, there is a qualitative difference between economic recovery and sustained growth. The country's relatively poor growth performance over the last half century can be traced to several key structural weaknesses, i.e., a pro-cyclical fiscal policy, intrinsically associated with lack of flexibility in social spending; a high and growing dependency ratio (between retirees and the working age population) - worsened by emigration by young people - and increased levels of informal employment; and, lack of effective competition in infrastructure sectors, dominated by the public sector and - in a related manner - the setting of tariffs with a fiscal criterion that limits incentives to increase efficiency, among several other structural factors. The objective of this study is to help develop a "shared" vision of growth with equity in Uruguay, but, unless shared, the policies and reforms discussed are unlikely to be implemented, maintained, or to be credible. The first pillar of this framework involves policies leading to fiscal and financial stability, the efficient operation of factor markets (capital and labor), and, the strengthening of social protection. The second pillar of policies and reforms aims at the creation of an investment climate, favorable to the accumulation of physical and human capital; it includes trade and integration policies, the development of a competitive framework - particularly in infrastructure sectors; and, policies on education and health for the development of human capital. The third pillar is formed by the policies and reforms that promote growth driven through innovation; it will require a thorough transformation of institutional capabilities, entrepreneurial culture, and the system of innovation.Publication Human Capital Project(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-04-27)The Human Capital Index (HCI) Compass is a guidance note for clients' own assessment of progress towards HCI. The launch of the Human Capital Index (HCI) in October 2018 spurred an interesting conversation on the state of the world in terms of preparing the current generation to the challenges of the future labor market. By successfully highlighting the depth of the human capital crisis and enabling policy makers to see spending in the social sectors as investments that reap benefits in the long run, the index demonstrated its usefulness as an advocacy tool. Partly due to the success of the advocacy effort, the immediate questions policy makers posed were 'what to do to improve the HCI?' and 'how best to track progress considering the slowly-moving nature of the index. The HCI Compass is a response to this query. First, it aims to help countries answer the question: "What do we need to do to improve our HCI and its sub components (child survival, adult survival, stunting, years of schooling, test scores)?" It does so by providing a checklist of key policies, legal framework and aspects of service delivery that characterize countries with good human capital outcomes and/or are proven to be important to improving the key components of the HCI. Pinpointing the set of policies and interventions that drive human capital outcomes is complicated by the fact that the underlying production function and how the different factors interact to produce outcomes is not straight forward. As such, some of the policies and service delivery indicators identified in the compass could be mere correlates rather than determinants of human capital formation. The relative importance of the indicators would also vary based on where a country currently stands and as such, the need to tailor it to each country context. Second, it aims to help countries answer the linked questions: "How well are these policies working? And how do we know we are on track?" It does so by identifying intermediate outcome variables and benchmark variables that will help policymakers assess progress on the ground towards a better HCI. We can think of these variables both as the intermediate results of the policies recommended above, and as "leading indicators" of what will happen to the HCI over time.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication World Development Report 2019(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2019)Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. New ways of production are adopted, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology today. Technological progress disrupts existing systems. A new social contract is needed to smooth the transition and guard against rising inequality. Significant investments in human capital throughout a person’s lifecycle are vital to this effort. If workers are to stay competitive against machines they need to train or retool existing skills. A social protection system that includes a minimum basic level of protection for workers and citizens can complement new forms of employment. Improved private sector policies to encourage startup activity and competition can help countries compete in the digital age. Governments also need to ensure that firms pay their fair share of taxes, in part to fund this new social contract. The 2019 World Development Report presents an analysis of these issues based upon the available evidence.Publication Zimbabwe(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2019-03-01)This report presents an assessment of Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector disaster risk and management capacity. The findings indicate that Zimbabwe is highly exposed to agricultural risks and has limited capacity to manage risk at various levels. The report shows that disaster-related shocks along Zimbabwe’s agricultural supply chains directly translate to volatility in agricultural GDP. Such shocks have a substantial impact on economic growth, food security, and fiscal balance. When catastrophic disasters occur, the economy absorbs the shocks, without benefiting from any instruments that transfer the risk to markets and coping ability. The increasing prevalence of ‘shock recovery-shock’ cycles impairs Zimbabwe’s ability to plan and pursue a sustainable development path. The findings presented here confirm that it is highly pertinent for Zimbabwe to strengthen the capacity to manage risk at various levels, from the smallholder farmer, to other participants along the supply chain, to consumers (who require a reliable, safe food supply), and ultimately to the government to manage natural disasters. The assessment provides the following evidence on sources of risks and plausible risk management solutions. It is our hope that the report contributes to action by the Government of Zimbabwe to adopt a proactive and integrated risk management strategy appropriate to the current structure of the agricultural sector.Publication The Power of Survey Design : A User's Guide for Managing Surveys, Interpreting Results, and Influencing Respondents(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2006)The vast majority of data used for economic research, analysis, and policy design comes from surveys-surveys of households, firms, schools, hospitals, and market participants, and, the accuracy of the estimate will depend on how well the survey is done. This innovative book is both a 'how-to' go about carrying out high-quality surveys, especially in the challenging environment of developing countries, and a 'user's guide' for anyone who uses statistical data. Reading this book will provide data users with a wealth of insight into what kinds of problems, or biases to look for in different data sources, based on the underlying survey approaches that were used to generate the data. In that sense the book is an invaluable 'skeptics guide to data'. Yet, the broad storyline of the book is something that should be absorbed by statistical data users. The book will teach and show how difficult it often is to obtain reliable estimates of important social and economic facts, and, therefore encourages you to approach all estimates with sensible caution.Publication World Development Report 2014(Washington, DC, 2013-10-06)The past 25 years have witnessed unprecedented changes around the world—many of them for the better. Across the continents, many countries have embarked on a path of international integration, economic reform, technological modernization, and democratic participation. As a result, economies that had been stagnant for decades are growing, people whose families had suffered deprivation for generations are escaping poverty, and hundreds of millions are enjoying the benefits of improved living standards and scientific and cultural sharing across nations. As the world changes, a host of opportunities arise constantly. With them, however, appear old and new risks, from the possibility of job loss and disease to the potential for social unrest and environmental damage. If ignored, these risks can turn into crises that reverse hard-won gains and endanger the social and economic reforms that produced these gains. The World Development Report 2014 (WDR 2014), Risk and Opportunity: Managing Risk for Development, contends that the solution is not to reject change in order to avoid risk but to prepare for the opportunities and risks that change entails. Managing risks responsibly and effectively has the potential to bring about security and a means of progress for people in developing countries and beyond. Although individuals’ own efforts, initiative, and responsibility are essential for managing risk, their success will be limited without a supportive social environment—especially when risks are large or systemic in nature. The WDR 2014 argues that people can successfully confront risks that are beyond their means by sharing their risk management with others. This can be done through naturally occurring social and economic systems that enable people to overcome the obstacles that individuals and groups face, including lack of resources and information, cognitive and behavioral failures, missing markets and public goods, and social externalities and exclusion. These systems—from the household and the community to the state and the international community—have the potential to support people’s risk management in different yet complementary ways. The Report focuses on some of the most pressing questions policy makers are asking. What role should the state take in helping people manage risks? When should this role consist of direct interventions, and when should it consist of providing an enabling environment? How can governments improve their own risk management, and what happens when they fail or lack capacity, as in many fragile and conflict-affected states? Through what mechanisms can risk management be mainstreamed into the development agenda? And how can collective action failures to manage systemic risks be addressed, especially those with irreversible consequences? The WDR 2014 provides policy makers with insights and recommendations to address these difficult questions. It should serve to guide the dialogue, operations, and contributions from key development actors—from civil society and national governments to the donor community and international development organizations.Publication Ten Steps to a Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System : A Handbook for Development Practitioners(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2004)An effective state is essential to achieving socio-economic and sustainable development. With the advent of globalization, there are growing pressures on governments and organizations around the world to be more responsive to the demands of internal and external stakeholders for good governance, accountability and transparency, greater development effectiveness, and delivery of tangible results. Governments, parliaments, citizens, the private sector, Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), civil society, international organizations, and donors are among the stakeholders interested in better performance. As demands for greater accountability and real results have increased, there is an attendant need for enhanced results-based monitoring and evaluation of policies, programs, and projects. This handbook provides a comprehensive ten-step model that will help guide development practitioners through the process of designing and building a results-based monitoring and evaluation system. These steps begin with a 'readiness assessment' and take the practitioner through the design, management, and importantly, the sustainability of such systems. The handbook describes each step in detail, the tasks needed to complete each one, and the tools available to help along the way.