Resumo

RAMBLA, Xavier. Does Development Exacerbate Social Inequality?. Rev. Mex. Sociol [online]. 2003, vol.65, n.3, pp.665-700. ISSN 2594-0651.

The article provides the information and theoretical interpretation required for a comparison of six countries (France, Sweden, Spain, Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica). The author attempts to ascertain whether social change has reduced the relative inequalities between the positions of their class structures and status and whether it has promoted their economic and human development. The results show that economic development does not tend to generate similar middle-class structures. On the contrary, the awareness of social interdependence is the crucial factor which, together with certain specific features of these structures, has contributed to equality and human development.

Palavras-chave : development; inequality; social policy; social structure.