Unemployment Insurance in Brazil: the ability to combine social protection and better functioning labor market

• Published in: Sociedade e estado Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 185 - 208
• Main Authors: Balestro, Moises Villamil, Marinho, Danilo Nolasco Cortes, Walter, Maria Inez Machado Telles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 01.05.2011
• Subjects: Brazil; Cleavage; Economic Conditions; Market Economy; Markets; Professional Training; Social Integration; Social Policy; Unemployment; Welfare State
• ISSN: 0102-6992
• DOI: 10.1590/S0102-69922011000200010

Stemming from the welfare state and its connection with the two main types of capitalist economies, Liberal Market Economy and Coordinated Market Economy, the paper discusses the experience of the Brazilian Unemployment Insurance Program. The Program is regarded as a key welfare policy in Brazil and one that enables the combination of social protection and economic performance. In this context, the latter is associated to a better functioning labour market. The main argument of this paper is that the integration of unemployment insurance benefit, employment services, and professional training, the three pillars of the Program, enables the combination of social protection and economic performance. In general, both have been seen as a trade-off relationship. By drawing on data from a public policy evaluation research of the Brazilian Unemployment Insurance Program, the paper points out the barriers to be overcome in order to achieve the integration in the three pillars. Results from research revealed a cleavage between them. The integration can become a driver in the overcoming of the trade-off relationship in the burgeoning Brazilian welfare state. The Brazilian experience sheds light upon important social policy issues that other countries are facing up too. Adapted from the source document.