Assessment of the socioeconomic profile of Brazil's low-income population: a criticism of current classifications

The contrasts , inequalities of income and opportunities of the Brazilian population that make up the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid make it relevant to deepen studies on the limits of poverty for bet-ter urban management. In this article, data from the Cadastro unico and information collected in field research are used to verify whether the definitions of the main social programs embrace the poor popula-tion in its entirety. Through correlation analysis, propositions are tested using some variables of interest to define poverty , income. Even using a one-dimensional extreme poverty line (income), it was possi-ble to discuss that the parameters adopted by current public policies do not reach the entire base of the pyramid. The literature and the analysis of the results suggest the importance of reviewing the methodo-logy of socioeconomic classification, especially for low-income families that are on the poverty line. The propositions indicated that social programs are negatively correlated with income, while formal work, education and infrastructure are positively correlated with income. The results can guide urban planning through public policies that promote equity among those most dependent on social programs.