This paper uses Brazil’s regional inequality to carry out comparative research on the role of civil society in economic development. Through quantitative event count data buttressed with primary archival research, greater involvement of civil society in public policy is shown to correlate with economic and social development. The results suggest that a robust, free civil society can improve development outcomes by providing additional informed voices in the policy process. These serve both as independent voices to vet policy proposals, and as sources of new policy initiatives themselves.
