a dynamic panel model was used estimated by the twostep generalized methodofmoments system developed by blundellbond in order to analyse three scenarios the first corresponds to the entire period covered by this study ie the second encompasses the years from to the period leading up to the real plan and the third is the period from to the years following the implementation of the real plan the results indicate that economic growth policies that promote an increase in income in conjunction with a reduction in income disparities are more effective in combating poverty in brazil than those that focus only on raising mean income levels the findings also point to the existence of a propoor form of growth in the period following the real plan