Diferenciais de rendimentos por cor, uma análise do estado de Minas Gerais no ano de 2023

Abstract

Wage inequality between racial groups is a persistent feature of the Brazilian labor market. This paper aims to investigate racial discrimination in wages in the state of Minas Gerais in 2023, quantifying the portion of the income differential between white and black workers that cannot be explained by productive characteristics. The analysis uses microdata from the national household sample survey, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua (PNAD Contínua, IBGE, 2023) and employs the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition methodology (1973). The results indicate, in Minas Gerais, an average wage differential of approximately 32% in favor of white workers. The decomposition reveals that 59.5% of this income disparity does not stem from differences in endowments such as education and experience, but rather from unequal returns to these qualifications. In particular, the study shows that each additional year of study results in a significantly lower wage return for black workers compared to their white peers. The study concludes that racial discrimination remains a structural and determining factor of inequality in the Minas Gerais labor market, suggesting that public policies must go beyond promoting access to education, also focusing on ensuring equity in the returns to human capital and combating discriminatory practices in the workplace.​