Grupos vulneráveis são mais penalizados em momentos de crise? Uma análise para o mercado de trabalho brasileiro por sexo e raça

Abstract

This study analyzes how gender and race wage inequality behaves during recession periods in Brazil. The objective is to present a comparative analysis of income during the political crisis of 2014-2016 and the COVID-19 pandemic crisis in 2020, focusing on men, women, whites, and blacks. The data comes from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Contínua) from 2012 to 2023 for workers aged 18 to 65, and it is expected to answer whether gender and race inequalities tend to increase in the Brazilian labor market during recession periods for these individuals. In addition to a descriptive analysis of unemployment, employment, and income in the labor market, the study seeks to investigate in detail the residual variance of Brazilian workers' wages by gender and race. The main findings show that, during the political crisis of 2014- 2016, there were fewer job opportunities and lower incomes for men. In contrast, the pandemic crisis had an opposite trajectory, causing more significant damage to women. Blacks, especially black women, tend to be more sensitive to crises. For the type of occupation, the results are similar, but with a more significant and more volatile wage penalty in informal jobs. However, this is a quicker and more demanded option in postcrisis periods, helping the most vulnerable to recover from the setbacks caused by a recession. By providing greater insight into wage differentials, it becomes possible to discuss public policies that can help mitigate the harmful socio-economic effects generated during these periods.