HUMAN CAPITAL OR WILD CAPITALISM? AN APPRAISAL OF THE CONTROVERSIAL DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME DURING THE BRAZILIAN "MIRACLE"

ABSTRACT This article aims at providing an overview of the Brazilian income distribution controversyduring the 1960´s.To that end, we present the key arguments of theso-called “official” interpretation, based mostly on Langoni's (1973) study, as well as the main criticisms it received.The “official” interpretation states that the increase in the inequality of income distribution between 1960 and 1970 is a natural and transitory consequence of the disequilibrium between thesupply and demand of qualified labor,within the context of a high economic growth. However, from our part and in line with the main criticisms it received, we suggest that the "official" interpretation offers arguments which actually hinder the importance of crucial elements, both theoretical and empirical, linked tothe organizational hierarchy of businesses, to the economic policy adopted by the military government and to the pattern of capitalist development in Brazil.

摘要 本文旨在概述20世纪60年代巴西收入分配领域的争议。为此，本文将阐述主要基于朗戈尼（Langoni, 1973）研究的所谓"官方"解读的核心论点，以及该解读所遭受的主要批评。"官方"解读指出，1960年至1970年间收入分配不平等程度的加剧，是高经济增长背景下，合格劳动力（qualified labor）供需失衡所带来的自然且暂时性的结果。然而，结合该解读所面临的主要批判，本文认为"官方"解读实际上忽视了诸多关键理论与实证要素的重要性——这些要素与企业的组织层级、军政府推行的经济政策，以及巴西的资本主义发展模式紧密相关。