Using data from the 2008-2009 Brazilian Family Budgets Survey, this paper analyzes the main characteristics of the per capita family income distribution in Brazil and its regions, compared to results obtained from the 2002-2003 Survey. The distribution of total spending per capita is also analyzed. Finally, the way in which the components of family income contributed to the increase or decrease in the country's income distribution in 2008-2009 is examined. It is shown that pensions of public servants are a strongly regressive component of the per capita family income, and that transfers from federal social programs are progressive, especially the Bolsa Família program.
Income distribution; Pensions; Government income transfers; Bolsa Família; Inequality
