Conceituação e mensuração de pobreza multidimensional entre idosos e pessoas com deficiência no Brasil : um exercício

Abstract

In this thesis, we performed a reflexive exercise that considers poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon, which can be understood in terms of deprivation of basic capabilities. Our reflection starts from a discussion of distributive justice conceptions. Having as the main reference the justice theory developed by Sen, we reiterate the imperative that basic capabilities must be guaranteed to all people, and that no one shall be deprived of the rights and freedoms that provide the experience of citizenship. We analyzed the potentials and limits of the multidimensional approach as opposed to the monetary approach. We critically explored conceptual and methodological differences in the definition of poverty and its measurement. We characterized the multidimensional space of poverty considering two specific groups: the elderly and individuals with disabilities. We seeked to contextualize and to describe relationships between these groups and the experience of poverty. Throughout our reflection, we are especially attentive to personal conversion factors in interaction with social and environmental conversion factors, as seniors and people with disabilities are more difficult to convert resources in functions and capabilities. We conducted the empirical exercise using the GoM method (Grade of Membership), to develop a multidimensional poverty index with sample data from the 2010 Brazilian Demographic Census. The selection of the dimensions to be considered in poverty measurement were made from the deliberations' analysis of the National Conference Elderly and Persons with Disabilities. We did so, since Sen indicates that the delimitation of which are considered basic skills in a given context must come from democratic and participatory processes. We analyze the characteristics of the universe studied considering the dimensions of education, income, ownership of assets, infrastructure and labor. Our research problem focus on to the eligibility criteria of the Continuous Installment Benefit (CIB), a non-contributory cash transfer for elderly or disabled family with monthly per capita income of less than ¼ of the minimum wage. The results from our multidimensional analysis of poverty: 1) reaffirm the importance of the first dimension of the CIB eligibility criteria being targeted specifically to people with disabilities and to the elderly; 2) contest the second dimension of the eligibility criteria, from empirical evidence and theoretical formulations, enhancing their unfair character. The current criteria exclude from CIB individuals who are not extremely poor, but still live in the situation of deprivation. From this finding, we considered possible and necessary an expansion of CIB eligibility criteria to cover elderly and disabled in a situation of deprivation of basic capabilities. An amendment to this effect would be consistent as an inclusive social protection system that has been built in Brazil since the 1988 Constitution.