This paper analyses the quality of economic growth of the Brazilian Northeast region, the poorest region of the country, during the period 1991-2010 specifically investigating the relative benefices of poor individuals. By using an indicator that considers both traditional poverty measures and the relative growth of the income from poorest individuals, it provides evidence for the states and mesorregions of the Brazilian Northeast. The set of evidence indicates that the results for the periods 1991-2000 and 2000-2010 are very different: during the second period the income dynamic is clearly favorable to poorest individuals; during the first, the opposite situation is observed. Focusing on the labor income, instead of on total income, allows to identify the better performance of the mesorregions that includes the Metropolitan Region of Northeast.
growth; poverty; pro-poor; Northeast
