Economic development, labor market and occupational structure: a comparison of the levels of mobility and inequality in Brazil and in the United States

Abstract

This research proposes to analyze the relationship between economic development, occupational structure and income distribution in Brazil and in the United States (U.S.). It will analyze themes related to the demand for skilled occupations, occupational mobility, equality of opportunities and inequality. More specifically, it aims to understand: i ) how economic dynamics in both countries was associated with the growth of labor productivity and the demand for skilled occupations; ii ) the dynamics and determinants of occupational mobility, evaluating, for example, how factors related to meritocracy and social background characteristics help explaining the perspective of social mobility in the two countries; iii ) the impact of the dynamics of occupational structure on the income distribution in Brazil and in the U.S., examining any patterns of convergence of the occupational structures and the income differentials within and between these countries. The analyses will be based on microdata of the National Sample Survey (PNAD, Brazil) and the Current Population Survey (CPS, USA), from 1981 to 2012. The project seeks to promote a research partnership between UNICAMP and Texas A&M University through joint publications and exchange of researchers. (AU)