Pacific Leadership Fellows Tiago Falcão, who currently serves as the national secretary of Income of Citizenship of the Ministry of Social Development in Brasil, will offer insights on how the emergence of charismatic leaders, coupled with increases in social expenditures and the launch of conditional cash transfer programs (CCTs), have changed social protection in Latin America.

In the context of low economic growth and great social polarization in Latin America, questions arise about the sustainability of the current social spending and behavioral effects of CCTs. Falcão will discuss the emergence of new movements connected to the middle class and religious groups, and how these may affect social protection programs and policies geared toward helping the poor and vulnerable in Latin America.

The event will start with a talk at 5 p.m., followed by a reception at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served following the program.