Economy
Edward Finney
Oct 23 2008

Unfortunately, there is an informal class system existing in Brazil. As in most countries, the white race rules in government, business and education. On the surface Brazil appears to be more integrated but a close look reveals that the non-white race, although in a majority, doesn´t have much opportunity in Brazil. The poorest part of the country (and also the nicest) is the Northeast. Here the non-white is a product of the terrible public school system, and job opportunities outside of menial employment are rare.

The really poor, with very little education, are part of the informal employment system. . . . . .that is self-employed with no benefits of health or retirement. They run the thousands of sidewalk `stores´ that sell everything imaginable. . . . .underwear, shirts and shorts, toys, kitchen ware, fruits and vegetables, stationary, ad nausaum. Those that do not have a primitive stand of some sort have a push cart. Those without a push cart carry whatever they can. The biggest items for sale the last couple of years have been pirated watches and CD/DVD´S. The sellers roam the city center and beaches looking for buyers willing to buy these items for a low price of 4 CD/DVD´S for about $US5.00 and a good looking knock-off watch that will last 3 months at most for less than $US10.00. The beach crowd will also find vendors selling peanuts and cashews, ball caps, hammocks, arts and crafts, oysters and shrimps, tropical fruit juices and snacks, sandals and whatever else will turn a buck.

Another form of informal employment are the `Recyclers´ who prowl the streets from sundown to sunrise looking for anything that is sell-able. Cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic are the most searched for items and the hand pulled carts are usually loaded to the top after a night´s search and guarantees another meal or two for the family. Sometimes entire families work together in their quest for recyclable items. The citizens of the city are usually gracious enough to leave recyclable items on the curb for easy access to the recyclers. The more successful recyclers have a mule pulled cart and are capable of making more than one run per night. This has provided a nice benefit to the city. It is that much cleaner oftrash.

As in most cities in the world, there is a dark side to the unemployable.That is the drug pushers and criminals. Luckily, they are in the shadow of their compatriots and in the minority. Most of the poor here in Northeast Brazil are honest hard working citizens just trying to get another meal in an unjust system. They are not to be feared or taken advantage of. They are actually a benefit to the buying public offering inexpensive goods and services. Without going to an expensive shop, on the street you can get your shoes repaired, watch or cell phone fixed, buy an umbrella on a rainy day, or grab a quick snack from a push cart. Somehow, these informal businesses get by and survive. The government overlooks them and at times actually helps them by building shopping centers for their trade. They are an integral part of the Brazilian lifestyle and will always be here. And, somehow they will survive another day.