Vida em Conta Initiative brings together economists and organizations to debate development with a focus on the real lives of the population

This week, more than 100 economists and 60 civil society organizations launched Vida em Conta, an initiative to bring the economic debate closer to the concrete living conditions of the Brazilian population. The action is articulated by Plataforma Cipó and the organization Transforma.

The initiative highlights that Brazil has achieved important advances in recent years and has resumed, since 2023, public policies, investments and planning instruments, with relevant results in combating hunger and poverty, generating work and income, reducing unemployment and inflation, environmental protection and recovering the State's capacity to act.

However, he warns that the continuity of these achievements is not assured. “There is a risk of returning to an agenda that combines permanent restrictions on public investment, weakening of public services and institutions and tax exemptions without clear counterparts for development, compromising social and environmental protection, harming economic growth”, say the participating entities.

They also highlight that, despite the growth of the economy and the improvement of social indicators in the country, a significant number of Brazilians still face difficulties in realizing these results in their daily lives.

"Economic growth is fundamental, but it also matters how its benefits are distributed. A successful economy is one that reduces inequalities and transforms the country's capabilities and wealth into technological advances, quality jobs and better living conditions for the population", says the executive director of Plataforma Cipó, Maiara Folly.

Among the guidelines advocated by the initiative are the reduction of inequalities, placing tackling disparities in income, wealth, gender, race and territory at the center of planning; reducing the cost of living; the expansion of time and conditions for a dignified life; strengthening technological sovereignty; and the acceleration of productive diversification to generate quality jobs.

"Brazil needs to have the ambition to define an agenda for social transformation in the face of the new global scenario. We cannot be limited only to short-term fiscal discussions in the face of climate, technological and work process changes. We need to advance an agenda that frees us from setbacks and guarantees economic opportunities and social rights", highlights Transforma's executive director, Marco Antonio Rocha.