The Doha Development Agenda and Brazil: Distributional Impacts*

Abstract

Brazil has one of the worst patterns of income distribution in the world. The persistence of this problem has interested researchers worldwide, and has stimulated a lively debate in Brazil. The role played by past trade liberalization and the possible effects of future changes such as the Doha Round, are central to this discussion. Global economic integration has complex effects; it is not obvious whether Brazil's poor will benefit. For example, although Brazil's poorest regions and workers depend on agriculture, some have argued that increased agricultural exports will benefit mainly landowners rather than poorer people. This paper addresses the potential impacts of a Doha agreement on income distribution and poverty in Brazil, and seeks to extend previous results. It focuses on impacts within agriculture, and on effects linked to ownership of land and other production factors