The Economic Cost of Exclusion Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics in the Labor Market in Brazil estimates the economic and fiscal impacts of SOGIESC-based exclusion in Brazil through a mixed-methods approach. Combining a large-scale purposive survey of over 11,000 LGBTI+ individuals with qualitative focus groups across multiple regions, the study develops two complementary models to quantify losses associated with wage penalties, higher unemployment, and labor force inactivity, as well as corresponding fiscal impacts. The findings reveal that LGBTI+ individuals face significantly higher unemployment (15.2% vs. 7.7%) and labor market exclusion, particularly among transgender, non-binary, and intersex populations. These disparities translate into substantial economic losses estimated at R$94.4 billion annually (approximately 0.8% of GDP), alongside fiscal losses of R$14.6 billion per year. The results demonstrate that discrimination not only undermines individual wellbeing but also reduces productivity, human capital accumulation, and overall economic performance. The study contributes new empirical evidence to inform policy, emphasizing that reducing exclusion is not only a matter of rights but also a critical pathway to enhancing inclusive growth and labor market efficiency in Brazil.
| Repository name | URI |
|---|---|
| Reproducible Research Repository (World Bank) | https://reproducibility.worldbank.org |
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Data section for details on sources, access instructions, and required file locations.00_master do-file and run the code.Outputs/ folder. These can be used to verify results against the published report.Some data is not yet publicly available, but is expected to be made available through the World Bank Microdata Library in the future.
| Author | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Dominik Kohler | World Bank | dkoehler1@worldbank.org |
| Mariah Rafaela Cordeiro Gonzaga da Silva | World Bank | mcordeirogonzaga@worldbank.org |
| Andrew Flores | American University | aflores@american.edu |
| Fernanda Fortes de Lena | Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona | ffortes@ced.uab.es |
| Samuel Araújo Gomes da Silva | Fundação Oswaldo Cruz | samuel@institutomatizes.com.br |
| Ana Maria Hermeto Camilo de Oliveira | Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais | ahermeto@cedeplar.ufmg.br |
| Lucas Bulgarelli | Instituto Matizes | lucas@institutomatizes.com.br |
2026-05-21
| Location | Code |
|---|---|
| Brazil | BRA |
The materials in the reproducibility packages are distributed as they were prepared by the staff of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this event do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, the Executive Directors of the World Bank, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the materials included in the reproducibility package.
| Name | URI |
|---|---|
| MIT License | https://opensource.org/license/mit |
| World Bank IGO Rider | https://github.com/worldbank/metadata-editor/blob/main/WB-IGO-RIDER.md |
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Dominik Kohler | World Bank | dkoehler1@worldbank.org |
| Reproducibility WBG | World Bank | reproducibility@worldbank.org |
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproducibility WBG | DECDI | World Bank - Development Impact Department | Verification and preparation of metadata |
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