The paper addresses slow-down of economic dynamnics in a large rising country – Brazil. The author draws attention to the conservative nature of Brazilian modernization, continuously reproducing the dualism of antiquity and modernity, which results in the existence of an extensive layer of poor – “subproletariat”. It is shown that an active social policy pursued in Brazil in recent years has reduced inequalities in the distribution of income and significantly reduced poverty. However, about one third of the economically active population of Brazil are not willing for modern occupations. They actively supported the conservative macroeconomic policies of the authorities, profitable large exporters of raw materials, agribusiness and financiers. The article discusses the issue of policy limits for the accelerated development of education. This specificity of socialization of children from “subproletariat” families, not allowing them to learn the curriculum, prevents formation of a modern labor force. The solution to the problem of improving efficiency of the economy and technological upgrading depends on the social sphere, which itself calls for unconventional approaches to them.