Testing the Goodwin growth-cycle macroeconomic dynamics in Brazil

► We discuss the empirical feasibility of Goodwin's macroeconomic model of growth with cycles. ► We use the individual income data of Brazil from 1981 to 2009. ► Variables of the Goodwin model are obtained using the Gompertz-Pareto distribution. ► The results show a partial qualitative and quantitative agreement with the model. ► We conclude that the Goodwin model must be improved in order to become a viable representation of real-world data.