Leonardo M Monasterio

Publications of Leonardo M Monasterio

• Growth and inequalities of height in Brazil (1939-1981)

  Authors: Leonardo M Monasterio, Luiz Paulo Noguerol, Claudio Djissey Shikida

  07/2006;

  This paper analyzes the heights of Brazilian people using anthropometric and economic data. The literature suggests that height is a good proxy of the material living conditions of differentThis paper analyzes the heights of Brazilian people using anthropometric and economic data. The literature suggests that height is a good proxy of the material living conditions of different populations. Data indicate that the difference between the heights of 21 and 65-year-old men is approximately six centimetres. The same value, by coincidence, represents the difference in the stature of the poorest and richest quintiles. Adjusted data show an increase of 3.8 centimetres in the heights of adult male Brazilians born between 1939 and 1981. There are also stable regional differences; in the North and Northeast of the country, heights are about two centimetres lower than the national average for all groups. Regression analyses show that proxy variables related to living conditions during bodily growth, and using regional dummies, were statistically significant causes of the variation in the heights of individuals. In contrast, colour, urban/rural, and inequality variables were not significant. The results replicate what the historiography of the relation between living conditions and stature makes clear: the social environment has a significant impact on the average height of populations.

• SEIS CENTÍMETROS: UMA ANALÍSE ANTROPOMÉTRICA DA POF 2002- 2003

  Authors: Luiz Paulo Nogueról, Cláudio D. Shikida, Leonardo M. Monasterio

  02/2005;

  This paper analyzes the heights of the Brazilian people using anthropometric and economic data from the Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) 2002-2003. The literature suggests that height is aThis paper analyzes the heights of the Brazilian people using anthropometric and economic data from the Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) 2002-2003. The literature suggests that height is a good proxy of the physical life conditions of the populations. The tabulations of POF microdata indicate that the difference among the heights of 21 and 65-year-old men is circa 6 centimeters. The same value, by chance, represents the difference on the stature of the poorest and richest quintiles. There are also steady regional differences; in the North and Northeast, the heights are about 2 centimeters lower than the national average, for any cohort. Regression analyses show that proxy variables related to life conditions during body growth and regional dummies were statistically significant causes of the variation on the height of individuals. In contrast, color, urban/rural and inequality variables were not significant. The results replicate what the historiography on life conditions and stature says: the social environment has a significant impact on the average height of the populations.

• Growth and inequalities of height in Brazil (1939-1981)

  Authors: Leonardo M Monasterio, Luiz Paulo Noguerol

  This paper analyzes the heights of Brazilian people using anthropometric and economic data. The literature suggests that height is a good proxy of the material living conditions of differentThis paper analyzes the heights of Brazilian people using anthropometric and economic data. The literature suggests that height is a good proxy of the material living conditions of different populations. Data indicate that the difference between the heights of 21 and 65-year-old men is approximately six centimetres. The same value, by coincidence, represents the difference in the stature of the poorest and richest quintiles. Adjusted data show an increase of 3.8 centimetres in the heights of adult male Brazilians born between 1939 and 1981. There are also stable regional differences; in the North and Northeast of the country, heights are about two centimetres lower than the national average for all groups. Regression analyses show that proxy variables related to living conditions during bodily growth, and using regional dummies, were statistically significant causes of the variation in the heights of individuals. In contrast, colour, urban/rural, and inequality variables were not significant. The results replicate what the historiography of the relation between living conditions and stature makes clear: the social environment has a significant impact on the average height of populations.

• Immigration and the origins of regional inequality: Government-sponsored European migration to Southern Brazil before World War I

  Authors: Irineu de Carvalho Filho, Leonardo M Monasterio

  This paper studies the long-term consequences of the government-sponsored programs of European immigration to Southern Brazil before the Great War. We find that the municipalities closer to theThis paper studies the long-term consequences of the government-sponsored programs of European immigration to Southern Brazil before the Great War. We find that the municipalities closer to the original sites of nineteenth century government sponsored settlements (colônias) have higher per capita income, less poverty and dependence on Bolsa Família cash transfers, better health and education outcomes; and for the areas close to German colonies, also less inequality of income and educational outcomes than otherwise. Since that is a reduced form relationship, we then attempt to identify the relative importance of more egalitarian landholdings and higher initial human capital in determining those outcomes. Our findings are suggestive that more egalitarian land distribution played a more important role than higher initial human capital in achieving the good outcomes associated with closeness to a colônia.