Social Policy, Paradigm of Well-Being and Political Practice: a comparative analysis of conditional transfer programs

Abstract

This paper analyzes conditional income transfer programs adopted in countries such as Brazil and Mexico, by means of a comparative analysis between the Bolsa Família [Family Grant] and Oportunidades [Opportunities] programs in each country respectively. The research focuses on examining the reconfiguration of the social protection systems through social assistance. The methodology of the study is based on document research and empiric observation. The paper briefly presents these national cases, followed by a look at the social impacts of the persistent poverty in each. Given the social management of risk and of the vulnerabilities, the policies in question guarantee a minimum of security in parallel to access to public policies.