The exponent of this lifestyle, the malandro, or "bad boy" (rogue, hustler, rascal, scoundrel), has become significant to Brazilian national identity as a folk hero, or, rather an anti-hero.
A very serious cultural problem I see here in Brazil.
Don't most countries have significant folk heroes who are anti-heros? The U.S. used to have the western outlaw, and more recently, has the "gangsta".