This article shows the socio-economic changes in Brazil during the last 10 years. The author describes the social and economic reforms: „Growth Acceleration Program” (PAC and PAC 2), „My house my life” (1 and 2), „Zero Hunger, Territories of Citizenship”, „National Program for Family Agriculture” and the most important „Bolsa Familia” with the newest version: Brasil sem miseria. „Bolsa Familia” is a cash-transfer programme that has certain conditionalities. It is given to women on condition that they send their kids to school and have them vaccinated. It is also given to pregnant women, on condition that they see a doctor during pregnancy. So there is a health and educational component in it. „Bolsa Familia” helps to lift people out of poverty and to enter the labour market. It demonstrates that reducing hunger also appears to generate economic benefits to development. „Bolsa Família” benefits a quarter of Brazil’s population but requires an investment of just over 2 percent of the federal budget and only 0,5 of the GDP. Brasil demonstrates that economic and social development are not in conflict, but on the contrary, stimulate each other.