The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the association among observed changes in the family structure and the poverty condition in Brazil between 1981 and 2006. It will be highlighted: a) changes in the family structure; b) reduction of the average number of persons in the family; and c) higher participation of family members in the labor market, over all the women. The main hypothesis is that observed changes in the family structure has played an important role reducing the poverty indices in Brazil. To reach such purpose, this paper has been divided in four main parts: i) analysis of the economic context in the last 26 years and labor market trends; ii) changes observed in the family structure in this period; iii) association between family structure and poverty; iv) impacts of changes in the family structure over the poverty indices.
Family structure; Poverty; Labor market
