In Araioses, the poor town visited earlier in this survey, schools get 1, 600 reais a month direct from the ministry, and their parent-teacher associations decide what to spend it on.

ECONOMIST: Start at the beginning

In rural areas like Araioses there are fruit trees, there are rivers to be fished, now there are free school meals and there is a sense of solidarity that encourages the sharing of food.

ECONOMIST: Three square meals a day