Demographic dividend has been wasted in Brazil

Significance

In much of the world, COVID-19 has exacted a heavy toll on young people, who saw their education disrupted and were frequently the first victims of the impact on labour markets. However, young Brazilians were hit especially hard as long-underperforming schools remained closed for longer than in most other countries. Moreover, pre-pandemic youth employment had not recovered from the deep 2015-16 recession.

Impacts

• Demographic and labour-market trends will increase pension and healthcare costs while reducing productivity.
• A growing brain drain will further affect the country’s prospects in the coming years.
• Society and the economy will feel the impact of COVID-19 on education for decades.