We must compare this with the much lower levels of relative prosperity previously shown by this leading BRIC nation (or indeed its fellow-members in the grouping today or elsewhere in the emerging world at any time).
But the process is not complete. On the one hand, If one looks at housing as the important indicator that it is, government-sponsored schemes like ‘minha casa minha vida’ have been crucial in the betterment of life for ordinary-earning Brazilians. In addition it has also benefited those who have injected their funds into ethical investments of this kind (affordable home construction) which make the whole approach possible. Obviously decent homes for not-rich people is not the whole story for social progression but it’s a very big component in the picture,
On the other hand, people in Brazil, or involved with her, are well aware that despite these advances much still needs to be done. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) for instance reminds us that six per cent of the population…over 11 million people…still live in what can only be called slums. These are spread throughout the country but over half of them are in the South East. A notorious example is still Rocinha with over seventy thousand people.
Commentators, however are guardedly optimistic. Society as a whole is determined to reduce these deprivation figures further and looks forward to making an even greater dent in the problem in 2012 and beyond. People concerned in the ‘affordable homes’ industry / movement are realistically aware of the challenges before them and will rise to them.
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