Opinion – Vinicius Torres Freire: Where can money come from for the poor and more growth under Lula 3

At least 6 million Bolsa Família benefits may be irregular, perhaps up to 10 million, almost half of the entire program. The estimate, by and large, is from Minister Wellington Dias (Social Development). Until February, the ministry intends to present the new Bolsa Família.

It is an example of renovations and reconstructions that can raise more money, make spending more efficient. The Treasury promises to review government contracts. More lasting and profound, if it works (if it has political support), Planning promises to review programs in order to verify the effectiveness of the expenditure (or the tax exemption).

Changing ideas about dogmatic or trickery nonsense, such as barring the final privatization of the port of Santos, may allow an increase in private investment, make Baixada Santista progress, increase transport efficiency, call for public investment or public-private partnership for works in the vicinity or port access.

This Wednesday, there were rumors that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva might change his mind about the final privatization of the port. There is no shortage of regulatory nonsense and legal ploys that favor particularistic private interests to be reviewed.

Thus, in another way and by other means, more money is collected, from taxes, employment and economic efficiency, and social improvement. This is the case with sanitation. Fighting against private investment in water and sewerage is stupid, just like fighting a telephone, internet or electricity company. It is important for the government to take care of the (poor) regions that are likely to be uncovered. Lula has already done this in another area, with Luz para Todos, for example.

Lula 3 has an avenue of public success, criticism, administration and growth if he comes up with revisions and reforms like these, which can put an end to privatist mummies disguised as “state intervention” and “strategic program”. In addition, apart from the increase in productivity, it could raise money for life and death issues, such as the SUS, day care or housing for poor people.

Return to the estimate of Dias, the Minister of Social Development. Suppose there are 6 million irregular benefits. This amounts to more than R$ 43 billion per year. Almost half a point of GDP: it was the annual cost of the old Bolsa Família for a decade, until 2019.

Those initial surveys, those big numbers, are often inaccurate. There are people who are not in the program or have some extreme need. Miscellaneous misery is not lacking. It is enough to walk a little along the really rich sidewalks of São Paulo, crowded with shacks for the poor, cross beggars at every corner or pass by a garbage dump where people are scavenging for something to eat.

Dias’ estimate, however, is not unrealistic. Millions of one-person families (families that split in order to receive extra benefit) appeared, as is well known.

Bolsa Família was destroyed by Jair Bolsonaro: in its format, administration, registration, monitoring of families, social control, integration with social assistance, etc. Bolsa Família was a social program, not just a (now awful) payment register.

Lula 3 could invent a notary public with the efficiency gains: “we made reforms, we are doing more with less”, raising money to deal with critical miseries, no matter if with public or private means —more likely, with a pragmatic mixture of the two . It would be acceptable and useful propaganda, even in didactic terms.