Chart of the day: Poverty reduction in Brazil in the age of globalization

Economist story on Dilma Rousseff's apparently successful job to win the presidency in Brazil on Lula's coat-tails.

Taking a lot at the chart, it's easy to see why that strategy should work.

Proof positive:  opening up to markets and globalization can reduce poverty while not increasing income inequality.

Yes, the inequality is still high in Brazil by international standards, but the poor are increasing their income faster than the rich, and that's a success story no matter how you slice it.

The article says, region by region, inequality is also decreasing.  Just over half of Brazilians now sit in the lower-middle class.