Ekonomistų siūlomi įvairūs ekonominės gerovės vertinimo variantai. Tačiau nei vienas jų neparodo visaverčio ekonominės gerovės vaizdo. Todėl darbo tikslas – išanalizuoti ekonominės gerovės matavimo per makroekonominius rodiklius galimybes. Problemai ištirti darbe išskiriamos trys dalys. Pirmoje dalyje numatoma išanalizuoti ekonomikos teoriją (istorinės ekonomikos mokyklų idėjos, gerovės ekonomikos vieno pradininkų A.C.Pigou idėjos, matematinės krypties atstovų idėjos). Antroje dalyje per statistinių duomenų analizę (Europos Sąjungos pavyzdžiu) bandoma suvokti ir apibrėžti galimų rodiklių pritaikomumą ekonominės gerovės matavime. Taip padaromas pagrindas trečiajai daliai. Šioje darbo dalyje bandoma išvesti vieningą ekonominės gerovės matavimo indeksą, apibendrinantį visus jau nagrinėtus tinkamus makroekonominius rodiklius. Padaryta teorinė analizė ir empirinis tyrimas leido darbo autoriui sukurti ir aprašyti sistemą (ekonominės gerovės indeksą), kuris apima pagrindinius makroekonominius rodiklius bei leidžia įvertinti abi ekonominės gerovės sudedamąsias dalis: turtingumą bei pasiskirstymą. Sistemos išbandymas realiais statistiniais duomenimis leido iš esmės ją subalansuoti. / Although economists offer different variants for welfare measuring, none of this variants can disclose the fool situation of economic wellbeing. That is why the main goal of this thesis is to analyze possibilities of economic welfare measuring by macroeconomics indicators. The thesis includes three parts. The first one is for theoretical analyses (ideas of historical economic schools, thoughts by A.C.Pigou – one of the welfare economics beginners, mathematic direction of economics). In the second part usefulness of possible indicators for measuring of economical welfare is being tried to discover through analysis of statistics data (using European Union statistics). That is how basis for the third part was made. In the last part unified index of economic welfare, which summarizes all mentioned macroeconomics indicators, is tried to be obtained. Theoretical analysis and empirical research allowed to make and describe the system (index of economic welfare) for the author by himself. This system includes main macroeconomical indicators and allows to unite both parts of economic welfare wealth and distribution. After some test with statistical data index of economic welfare was mainly balanced.

The aim of this study was to present a condensed and authentic report of what Mexico has done toward a practical education of the nation. It is also the aim of this study to show the development, the status, and the functioning of the Federal District. The study point out the relation and the needs of this type of education to the social and economic welfare and progress of the Mexican people.

Esta dissertação apresenta um modelo de equilíbrio geral dinâmico, com serviço contingente da dívida soberana, construído para analisar os impactos dos impostos sobre o bem-estar. Neste modelo, variações na estrutura tributária (oriundas de reformas) afetam o bem-estar dos agentes de forma direta, em decorrência de distorções alocativas, e também por meio de seus efeitos indiretos sobre o risco de default da dívida soberana. Avalia-se, quantitativamente, para o caso brasileiro, os custos de bem-estar associados a cada tipo de imposto. Obtém-se que a perda total de bem-estar devida aos impostos vigentes no Brasil é próxima de 19% do consumo de longo-prazo. O ranking dos tipos de imposto mostra-se robusto, seja em termos de custos de bem-estar por unidade de receita arrecadada (sob a tributação vigente), seja em termos de custos de bem-estar adicionais por unidade de receita adicional. Do mais eficiente para o menos eficiente: imposto sobre consumo, imposto sobre a remuneração do trabalho, imposto sobre a remuneração do capital. Observa-se que um aumento de receitas tributárias por meio da elevação do imposto sobre o consumo ou do imposto sobre a remuneração do trabalho pode gerar custos negativos de bem-estar. Esta possibilidade existe em economias nas quais a elasticidade da probabilidade de default da dívida com relação às receitas governamentais é suficientemente elevada, e os custos adicionais de default não são desprezíveis. Constata-se ainda que resultados perversos (no sentido de contra-intuitivos e indesejáveis) podem sobrevir a mudanças bem-intencionadas na estrutura tributária. / This dissertation presents a general equilibrium model, with contingent service of sovereign debt, constructed to analyze the impacts of taxes on welfare. In this model, variations on the tax structure (originated from reforms) impact welfare directly, in the form of allocative distortions, and also through their indirect effects on the probability of default on sovereign debt. I evaluate, quantitatively, for Brazil, the welfare costs associated to each type of taxation. I find that the total welfare loss due to current taxation in Brazil is close to 19% of long-term consumption. The ranking of tax types demonstrates to be robust, both in terms of welfare costs per unit of revenue raised (under the current tax structure), and in terms of additional welfare costs per unit of additional revenue raised. From the most efficient to the least efficient: consumption tax, labor income tax, capital income tax. I observe that a growth in tax revenues through the increase in either consumption or labor income tax can generate negative welfare costs. This is a possibility in economies in which the elasticity of the probability of default in relation to the level of government revenues is high enough, and additional costs of default are substantial. I also find that perverse results (in the sense of being counter-intuitive and undesirable) may be generated by well-intentioned changes in the tax structure.

Esta dissertação apresenta um modelo de equilíbrio geral dinâmico, com serviço contingente da dívida soberana, construído para analisar os impactos dos impostos sobre o bem-estar. Neste modelo, variações na estrutura tributária (oriundas de reformas) afetam o bem-estar dos agentes de forma direta, em decorrência de distorções alocativas, e também por meio de seus efeitos indiretos sobre o risco de default da dívida soberana. Avalia-se, quantitativamente, para o caso brasileiro, os custos de bem-estar associados a cada tipo de imposto. Obtém-se que a perda total de bem-estar devida aos impostos vigentes no Brasil é próxima de 19% do consumo de longo-prazo. O ranking dos tipos de imposto mostra-se robusto, seja em termos de custos de bem-estar por unidade de receita arrecadada (sob a tributação vigente), seja em termos de custos de bem-estar adicionais por unidade de receita adicional. Do mais eficiente para o menos eficiente: imposto sobre consumo, imposto sobre a remuneração do trabalho, imposto sobre a remuneração do capital. Observa-se que um aumento de receitas tributárias por meio da elevação do imposto sobre o consumo ou do imposto sobre a remuneração do trabalho pode gerar custos negativos de bem-estar. Esta possibilidade existe em economias nas quais a elasticidade da probabilidade de default da dívida com relação às receitas governamentais é suficientemente elevada, e os custos adicionais de default não são desprezíveis. Constata-se ainda que resultados perversos (no sentido de contra-intuitivos e indesejáveis) podem sobrevir a mudanças bem-intencionadas na estrutura tributária. / This dissertation presents a general equilibrium model, with contingent service of sovereign debt, constructed to analyze the impacts of taxes on welfare. In this model, variations on the tax structure (originated from reforms) impact welfare directly, in the form of allocative distortions, and also through their indirect effects on the probability of default on sovereign debt. I evaluate, quantitatively, for Brazil, the welfare costs associated to each type of taxation. I find that the total welfare loss due to current taxation in Brazil is close to 19% of long-term consumption. The ranking of tax types demonstrates to be robust, both in terms of welfare costs per unit of revenue raised (under the current tax structure), and in terms of additional welfare costs per unit of additional revenue raised. From the most efficient to the least efficient: consumption tax, labor income tax, capital income tax. I observe that a growth in tax revenues through the increase in either consumption or labor income tax can generate negative welfare costs. This is a possibility in economies in which the elasticity of the probability of default in relation to the level of government revenues is high enough, and additional costs of default are substantial. I also find that perverse results (in the sense of being counter-intuitive and undesirable) may be generated by well-intentioned changes in the tax structure.

This study estimates an energy sector model consisting of interfuel substitution model and an aggregate energy and non-energy input demand system that incorporates short-run and longrun structural adjustment parameters. The study finds that all fuels in the energy aggregate are Morishima substitutes and that there are significant sectoral variations in magnitude of the elasticities. This indicates that economic instruments should be considered for energy policy but such policies should take into account not only differences in technology used across sectors but also the systematic distribution of costs when the relative prices of fuels change. Estimates of long-run elasticities for aggregate input demands indicate that energy-capital input ratios adjust faster than labour-capital input ratios. This suggests that investment policy should take into consideration tradeoffs between environmental gains and employment implicit in the production structure of the Malawian economy as both capital and labour demands have dynamic interactions with energy in the long-run with potential significant cumulative impacts on the environment. Using results and gaps noted from the partial equilibrium analysis, the study also evaluated general equilibrium impacts of reducing fossil and biomass fuel use by production activities while investing in more hydroelectricity. The results show that carbon emissions and forest resource depletion due to energy use, respectively, can be reduced by imposing environmental taxes aimed at inducing a shift from biomass and fossil fuels to hydroelectricity. More significantly, there are at least three dividends from inducing a shift in the energy mix in that the economy can attain GDP at least equal to the value before imposition of environmental taxes in addition to reducing carbon emissions and deforestation. Further, redistributing the environmental tax revenues to reduce direct taxes on households leads to better income distribution. These findings have direct policy relevance to the contemporary challenges to sustainable development under the added burdens of climate change. Most importantly is what developing countries can do to strategically position themselves in global agreements on financing for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The general equilibrium estimate of direct environmental cost associated with the use of fossil and biomass fuels is close to the moderate estimate of social cost of deforestation in the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP). This is significant because in the absence of estimates of damages of secondary impacts of both carbon emissions and deforestation, the optimal energy tax as inferred from the general equilibrium model corresponds to the annual growth rate in the economy’s energy intensity. In addition, since short-run to medium term environmental impacts are critical when data on secondary damages are unavailable, it would be prudent to target growth in intensities of use of fuels that contribute to the economy’s footprint on the environment. The study also proposes alternatives to carbon emission taxation that could complement the current legislation on land use by agricultural estates. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / unrestricted

Gross domestic product (GDP) has become an influential standard measure of national prosperity and well-being, although it does not necessarily indicate long-term prosperity and well-being. Therefore, alternative and complementary measures to GDP have been developed and promoted, both internationally and nationally. The work undertaken in this study has aimed at exploring how complementary measures have been put to use in Sweden, Scotland, Italy and New Zealand and the experiences of their influence on environmental and social impacts through policy. This study draws on an analysis of 18 documents in combination with three interviews.  The study reveals that complementary measures have indeed been put into use in the selected nations, but how they are being used differs greatly. In the Swedish context, the complementary measure follows the development of prosperity by complementing GDP with a further number of indicators. Through the National Performance Framework, the Scottish Government evaluates its policies and monitors developments in Scotland's performance against its set of National Outcomes. Similarly, in Italy, the development of indicators for sustainability and equality is also monitored, but a selection of the indicators has also been included in their budget documents. The New Zealand government has launched a "Wellbeing Budget" with several priorities such as mental health, children's well-being and support for a transition to a sustainable economy. The New Zealand government monitors the impact of its Wellbeing Budget using its Living Standard Framework. Based on statements from Scotland and Sweden, it is not yet evident what significance the complementary measures have had on environmental and social aspects, as the measures do not take priority, but traditional economic measures are still widely used. On the other hand, New Zealand, Italy and Scotland have introduced legislation to support the continued prioritization of complementary measures on the political agenda.  Although the selected nations' complementary measures beyond GDP have demonstrated potential for environmentally and socially minded policymaking, the work needs to accelerate significantly among policymakers to have an impact, particularly in Sweden and Scotland. This study indicates a need for increased support if the complementary measures are to be more integrated into political decisions. / Bruttonationalprodukt (BNP) har blivit ett inflytelserikt standardmått för nationellt välstånd och välbefinnande, även om det nödvändigtvis inte tyder på långsiktigt välstånd och välbefinnande. Därför har alternativa och kompletterande mått till BNP utvecklats och främjats, både internationellt och nationellt. Arbete som har genomförts i denna studie har syftat till att undersöka hur kompletterande mått har kommit till användning i Sverige, Skottland, Italien och Nya Zeeland samt erfarenheter om de kompletterande måtten har haft inflytande på miljömässiga och sociala aspekter genom politik. Denna studie bygger på analys av 18 dokument kombinerat med tre intervjuer.  Studien har visat att kompletterande mått har tagits i bruk i de utvalda nationerna, men hur de används skiljer sig mycket åt. I den svenska kontexten ger det kompletterande måttet en bredare bild av välståndets utveckling genom kompletterande indikatorer till BNP. Skottlands National Performance Framework utvärderar den skotska regeringens politik och följer utvecklingen av Skottlands välmående mot uppsatta mål. På liknande sätt följs också utvecklingen av indikatorer för hållbarhet och jämlikhet i Italien, men ett urval av indikatorer har även inkluderats i deras budgetdokument. Nya Zeelands regering har lanserat en ”Wellbeing Budget” med flera prioriteringar såsom mental hälsa, barns välmående och för en övergång till en hållbar ekonomi. Nya Zeelands regering avser att följa effekterna av sin ”Wellbeing Budget” med hjälp av sitt Living Standard Framework. Baserat på uttalanden från Skottland och Sverige är det ännu inte uppenbart vilken betydelse deras kompletterande mått har haft för miljömässiga och sociala aspekter eftersom de kompletterande måtten i sig inte är styrande, utan traditionella ekonomiska mått används fortfarande i stor utsträckning. Dock har Nya Zeeland, Italien och Skottland infört lagstiftning för att stödja den fortsatta prioriteringen av kompletterande mått på den politiska agendan.  Även om de utvalda ländernas kompletterande mått har visat sig ha potential med hänseende till miljömässig och social inverkan, bör arbetet accelerera avsevärt bland beslutsfattare för att det ska få effekt, särskilt i hänseende till Sverige och Skottland. Denna studie belyser ett behov av ökat stöd kring de kompletterande måtten om de ska kunna integreras mer i politiska beslut.

This thesis firstly explores the process and effects of social dialogue in the context of informal home-based workers in Gujarat, India, and secondly the applicability of Dryzek’s theory of discourse democracy on this case study. In doing this, the study investigates the potential of social dialogue and discourse democracy to work as instruments for improving the social and economic situation of the workers. The case study consists of how the organisation and trade union Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) communicate with influential actors in order to improve the social and economic situation of the informal home-based workers. The material is gathered through interviews with four organisers at SEWA, and observations made when visiting three areas of home-based workers. The empirical results are presented in a chapter demonstrating the process of social dialogue and its effect on the workers situation in this particular context. The second part of the results is a discussion where the theoretical framework, consisting of Dryzek’s discourse democracy and the critique of Habermas’s deliberative democracy that structure his theory, and the empirical findings are scrutinised in relation to each other; by discussing traits of the theories in connection to the case study. The thesis concludes that there are similarities between social dialogue in this case and the theory of discourse democracy, but the theory cannot wholly be used to conceptualise social dialogue. It demonstrated the importance of the communicative decision-making to admit a wide variety of kinds of communication and to involve an active civil society with support in the constitutional framework for improving the social and economic situation of the workers. However, it also indicates that other practices than communicative ones are necessary in this struggle.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho écalcular o valor da perda de bem-estar do setor siderúrgico brasileiro, considerando os diferentes mercados relevantes, como o de aço bruto, laminados, vergalhões e ferro-gusa. Para alcançar este propósito foram estimadas diferentes equações de demanda para os referidos mercados relevantes para, então, encontrar as elasticidades-preço da demanda. O modelo teórico utilizado referente ao peso morto para mercados oligopolizados foi o de Daskin (1991). Tratandose do cálculo das elasticidades-preço, utilizaram-se modelos de equações simultâneas com o uso de variáveis instrumentais. O mercado siderúrgico é oligopolizado no mundo inteiro, incluindo o Brasil. As inúmeras fusões e aquisições ocorridas, principalmente após a desestatização do setor, contribuíram para a concentração do mercado. O mercado siderúrgico brasileiro apresentou um alto índice de concentração, principalmente no mercado de vergalhões onde apenas três grupos empresariais (Gerdau, Arcelor Mittal e Votorantim) controlam todo o mercado deste produto. Em um mercado altamente concentrado as firmas podem exercer poder de mercado e desta forma há perdas econômicas para a sociedade como um todo. As elasticidades-preço encontradas no trabalho refletem bem a estrutura do setor siderúrgico brasileiro, em que, todos os mercados relevantes analisados apresentaram baixos valores de elasticidade-preço, ou sejam, inelásticos às variações de preço. O mercado de vergalhões foi o mais inelástico se comparado aos demais mercados, além disso, os seus valores de peso morto em relação ao faturamento também foram os maiores, evidenciando uma forte perda de bem-estar. Apesar dos outros mercados relevantes terem apresentado valores de peso morto em relação ao faturamento do setor inferiores, os mesmos não foram desprezíveis. O mercado de aço bruto que neste estudo representa o mercado siderúrgico brasileiro como um todo (exceto o seguimento de ferro-gusa), por incorporar os demais mercados relevantes, é dominado pelos grupos empresariais Arcelor Mittal; Gerdau, Usiminas Cosipa e Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional - CSN, e também apresentou resultados indicativos de forte perda de bemestar, com alto valor de peso morto. Já o mercado de laminados, controlado pelos grupos Arcelor Mittal, Usiminas Cosipa, CSN e Gerdau, apresentou resultados muito próximos aos do aço bruto. O mercado de ferro-gusa, menos concentrado em comparação as demais, foi o que apresentou os menores valores de peso morto, o que era esperado, pois este mercado, apesar de ser dominado por quatro grandes grupos siderúrgicos (Arcelor Mittal, Usiminas Cosipa, CSN e Gerdau), é um mercado onde há a participação de inúmeros produtores de pequeno porte denominados guseiros. As conclusões deste trabalho mostram que o mercado siderúrgico brasileiro é muito concentrado e há o exercício do poder de mercado por parte das firmas participantes, ocasionando perda de bem-estar para sociedade brasileira. Espera-se que este estudo, ao apresentar os valores de perda de bem-estar, possacontribuir para a análise ou para elaboração de políticas públicas relacionadas ao setor em questão. / The main objective of this study was to calculate the value of the welfare loss for the Brazilian steel sector. Different relevant markets were analyzed, such as: crude steel, rolled steel, rebar and pig iron. Price-elasticities of demand were obtained by estimating different demand equations for each related market. The theoretical model proposed by Daskin (1991) was used to calculate the dead weight loss in oligopolistic markets. Elasticities were obtained by formulating the simultaneous equations model and using instrumental variables. Worldwide, steel market can be considered an oligolopy, as well as in Brazil. In the Brazilian market, mergers and acquisitions that happened after the privatization of the sector, contributed for the market concentration. The Brazilian steel market showed a high concentration ratio, especially in the rebar market where only three groups (Gerdau, Arcelor Mittal and Votorantim) control the entire Brazilian market for this product. In a highly concentrated market firms tend to exercise market power. Consequently, there are economic losses to the society. The price elasticities of demand that were found in this research highlight the structure of the Brazilian steel market. For all the relevant markets that were analyzed, there were found low values for elasticities. It shows that all the products are price-inelastic. The rebar market was found to be the more inelastic when compared to other markets. In addition, for this same market, the calculated values of dead weight loss related to sales were also higher. High welfare losses can be related to the high market concentration for this product. Even though other relevant markets have presented positive values of dead weight loss related to sales of the lower sector, these values were not negligible. The market for crude steel that was analyzed in this study represents the Brazilian steel market as a whole because it incorporates other relevant markets. Large groups, such as, Arcelor Mittal, Gerdau, Usiminas Cosipa and CSN dominate the market. The results analyzed for the crude steel indicate a strong welfare loss, with a high value of dead weight loss. The results for the rolled products market, dominated by Arcelor Mittal, Usiminas Cosipa, CSN e Gerdau, are close to those found for the crude steel market. The market for pig iron, which is less concentrated when compared to other markets, presented lower values of dead weight loss. This result was expected because although this sector is dominated by four big groups there are many other small companies also producing in this sector. According to the results, it can be concluded that the Brazilian steel market is highly concentrated what enables firms to exercise their market power, causing a welfare loss for the Brazilian society. It is expected that, by presenting values for the welfare loss in the steel market, this research can help in the analysis and development of public policies for this sector.

[pt] O trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento de um modelo para avaliação de bem-estar de política monetária numa economia onde o governo enfrenta alguma restrição à liberdade de financiamento da dívida pública. O governo, no modelo, é capaz de se financiar através da emissão de títulos da dívida e de duas formas de taxação: lump sum e distorciva. A hipótese adotada no trabalho é que o governo não poderá estabelecer um nível constante de taxação distorciva ao longo do tempo, e deixar que o estoque da dívida ou da taxação não distorciva se ajustem em resposta aos choques. Ao contrário, o governo será forçado a alterar a taxação distociva corrente em resposta às variações do serviço da dívida. A partir do modelo, são feitas as considerações sobre o comportamento ótimo da autoridade monetária, no sentido do estabelecimento de uma regra ótima de política monetária. / [en] The dissertation consists in the development of a model to evaluate the welfare effects of monetary policy in an economy where the government faces some restriction to debt financing. The government, in the model, is able to finance its expenditures by issuing public debt or levying two kinds of taxation: lump sum and distortionary taxes. The hypothesis adopted here is that the government cannot set a constant rate of distortionary taxation over time, and let either the debt stock or the lump sum taxation to adjust in response to shocks. Instead, the government will be forced to adjust the current distortionary taxation in response to variations of the debt service. The conclusion is that the optimal monetary policy rule that results from this model is quite different from the optimal rule in the absence of restrictions to debt financing.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho écalcular o valor da perda de bem-estar do setor siderúrgico brasileiro, considerando os diferentes mercados relevantes, como o de aço bruto, laminados, vergalhões e ferro-gusa. Para alcançar este propósito foram estimadas diferentes equações de demanda para os referidos mercados relevantes para, então, encontrar as elasticidades-preço da demanda. O modelo teórico utilizado referente ao peso morto para mercados oligopolizados foi o de Daskin (1991). Tratandose do cálculo das elasticidades-preço, utilizaram-se modelos de equações simultâneas com o uso de variáveis instrumentais. O mercado siderúrgico é oligopolizado no mundo inteiro, incluindo o Brasil. As inúmeras fusões e aquisições ocorridas, principalmente após a desestatização do setor, contribuíram para a concentração do mercado. O mercado siderúrgico brasileiro apresentou um alto índice de concentração, principalmente no mercado de vergalhões onde apenas três grupos empresariais (Gerdau, Arcelor Mittal e Votorantim) controlam todo o mercado deste produto. Em um mercado altamente concentrado as firmas podem exercer poder de mercado e desta forma há perdas econômicas para a sociedade como um todo. As elasticidades-preço encontradas no trabalho refletem bem a estrutura do setor siderúrgico brasileiro, em que, todos os mercados relevantes analisados apresentaram baixos valores de elasticidade-preço, ou sejam, inelásticos às variações de preço. O mercado de vergalhões foi o mais inelástico se comparado aos demais mercados, além disso, os seus valores de peso morto em relação ao faturamento também foram os maiores, evidenciando uma forte perda de bem-estar. Apesar dos outros mercados relevantes terem apresentado valores de peso morto em relação ao faturamento do setor inferiores, os mesmos não foram desprezíveis. O mercado de aço bruto que neste estudo representa o mercado siderúrgico brasileiro como um todo (exceto o seguimento de ferro-gusa), por incorporar os demais mercados relevantes, é dominado pelos grupos empresariais Arcelor Mittal; Gerdau, Usiminas Cosipa e Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional - CSN, e também apresentou resultados indicativos de forte perda de bemestar, com alto valor de peso morto. Já o mercado de laminados, controlado pelos grupos Arcelor Mittal, Usiminas Cosipa, CSN e Gerdau, apresentou resultados muito próximos aos do aço bruto. O mercado de ferro-gusa, menos concentrado em comparação as demais, foi o que apresentou os menores valores de peso morto, o que era esperado, pois este mercado, apesar de ser dominado por quatro grandes grupos siderúrgicos (Arcelor Mittal, Usiminas Cosipa, CSN e Gerdau), é um mercado onde há a participação de inúmeros produtores de pequeno porte denominados guseiros. As conclusões deste trabalho mostram que o mercado siderúrgico brasileiro é muito concentrado e há o exercício do poder de mercado por parte das firmas participantes, ocasionando perda de bem-estar para sociedade brasileira. Espera-se que este estudo, ao apresentar os valores de perda de bem-estar, possacontribuir para a análise ou para elaboração de políticas públicas relacionadas ao setor em questão. / The main objective of this study was to calculate the value of the welfare loss for the Brazilian steel sector. Different relevant markets were analyzed, such as: crude steel, rolled steel, rebar and pig iron. Price-elasticities of demand were obtained by estimating different demand equations for each related market. The theoretical model proposed by Daskin (1991) was used to calculate the dead weight loss in oligopolistic markets. Elasticities were obtained by formulating the simultaneous equations model and using instrumental variables. Worldwide, steel market can be considered an oligolopy, as well as in Brazil. In the Brazilian market, mergers and acquisitions that happened after the privatization of the sector, contributed for the market concentration. The Brazilian steel market showed a high concentration ratio, especially in the rebar market where only three groups (Gerdau, Arcelor Mittal and Votorantim) control the entire Brazilian market for this product. In a highly concentrated market firms tend to exercise market power. Consequently, there are economic losses to the society. The price elasticities of demand that were found in this research highlight the structure of the Brazilian steel market. For all the relevant markets that were analyzed, there were found low values for elasticities. It shows that all the products are price-inelastic. The rebar market was found to be the more inelastic when compared to other markets. In addition, for this same market, the calculated values of dead weight loss related to sales were also higher. High welfare losses can be related to the high market concentration for this product. Even though other relevant markets have presented positive values of dead weight loss related to sales of the lower sector, these values were not negligible. The market for crude steel that was analyzed in this study represents the Brazilian steel market as a whole because it incorporates other relevant markets. Large groups, such as, Arcelor Mittal, Gerdau, Usiminas Cosipa and CSN dominate the market. The results analyzed for the crude steel indicate a strong welfare loss, with a high value of dead weight loss. The results for the rolled products market, dominated by Arcelor Mittal, Usiminas Cosipa, CSN e Gerdau, are close to those found for the crude steel market. The market for pig iron, which is less concentrated when compared to other markets, presented lower values of dead weight loss. This result was expected because although this sector is dominated by four big groups there are many other small companies also producing in this sector. According to the results, it can be concluded that the Brazilian steel market is highly concentrated what enables firms to exercise their market power, causing a welfare loss for the Brazilian society. It is expected that, by presenting values for the welfare loss in the steel market, this research can help in the analysis and development of public policies for this sector.