The research The Social Dimensions of Inequality (PDSD) is a unique initiative within the Brazilian social sciences. The research stems from the Project for Stratification and Social Mobility Indicators, coordinated by the researcher Nelson do Valle Silva (IESP-UERJ), with CNPQ funding, and who conducted fieldwork throughout Brazil producing a (random) sample with national representation and with a design comparable to the current National Research Sampling (PNAD-IBGE) until 2004 (i.e. only the rural areas of the North have not been researched).
The idea was to produce a consistent set of sociological indicators for monitoring the dynamics of inequality and social mobility in Brazil. In this sense, the research is wholly unique; and such purpose was fulfilled with thoroughness, depth, and mastery. Official researches conducted by government agencies commonly focus solely on the most basic population attributes and categorizations, often neglecting central issues for the social sciences. The PDSD is extensively rich and detailed, aiming to fill the informational gap on many topics of interest. One of its main motivations was to investigate the process behind the creation and transmission of inequality throughout the life cycle of individuals, identifying crucial moments and landmarks.
