(Des)Equilíbrio da Previdência Social Brasileira 1945 - 1997: componentes econômico, demográfico e institucional

Abstract

This work evaluates the evolution of the Brazilian SocialSecurity System through its structural components from1945 to 1997. The institutional, demographic,economic and financial components are characterizedand measured. For this, we used variables traditionallyconsidered as fundamental to consolidate and supportsocial security systems based in broad agreementssustained by the interdependence betweengenerations, the so-called systems of simple sharing(pay-as-you-go). Generally, after the World War II, thepay-as-you-go system has been the main basis of thefinancial support the building of social policiesthroughout the world, thus becoming one of theprincipal foundation of Welfare States. The goalpursued in this work was to point out the singularitythat marks the construction process of a Welfare Statein Brazil. The specificity of the recent Brazilianexperience can be directly linked to a deep andcomplex connection, historically settled, among State,Social Policies and the Social Security System sincethe beginning of the establishment of the first pensionfunds by non-governmental institutions in 1923. Theresults allow us to unveil that, during the trajectory ofequilibrium and unbalance of the Brazilian SocialSecurity System between 1945 and 1997, opportunitiesto consolidate a strong public social security systemwere lost. However, that does not corroborateautomatically its supposed unavoidable bankruptcy,because changes can be made in its structuralcomponents.