Brazil: Economists launch ‘Vida em Conta’ to link policy to real-life conditions

More than 100 economists and 60 civil society organizations have launched ‘Vida em Conta’, an initiative coordinated by Plataforma Cipó and Transforma. The movement aims to align economic debate in Brazil with the concrete living conditions of its population, emphasizing that macroeconomic indicators must reflect improvements in income, health, housing, and dignity.

The initiative acknowledges recent progress in Brazil since 2023, including advancements in combating hunger and poverty, reducing unemployment and inflation, and strengthening environmental protection. However, participants warn of risks associated with returning to agendas that impose permanent restrictions on public investment, weaken public institutions, or provide tax exemptions without clear developmental returns.

Key guidelines proposed by the group include reducing inequalities related to income, gender, race, and territory; lowering the cost of living; strengthening technological sovereignty; and accelerating productive diversification. Leaders of the initiative, including Maiara Folly of Plataforma Cipó and Marco Antonio Rocha of Transforma, emphasize that economic growth must be accompanied by a fair distribution of benefits to ensure long-term social and economic stability.