This article discusses the research conducted between 2002 and 2011 on young, youth and public policy, published in Brazilian scientific journals that comprise the database SCIELO. The selected articles were categorized in relation to the home institution, titrations researchers, knowledge area and the publication of research, publication year of the article, type of research, objectives, methodological resources, concept of young, youth and public policy. We found a concentration of studies in the areas of education, health and social care. About conceptions of youth and youth predominated the concept of subject based on phases and stages clearly marked by the entry and exit of the work, being evident in these studies the logic that the guardianship is necessary, by the family, the State and other institutions, including the Academic. Under this logic is present most of the justifications for the claim of public policies for the youth in the analyzed articles.
young; youth; public policies
