From Inside Brazil : Development in a Land of Contrasts

The overarching theme of the book is
development in a land of contrasts. There have been large
economic, social, and political changes. The mass of society
is far more expressive and politically involved today. In
1945, the country had 7.4 million voters, about 11 percent
of the population. Today it has 120 million voters, or 67
percent of the population. The economy has been modernized,
the capitalist ethos spread across regions, mass
communication reached every part of the country, and basic
education (though of varying quality) has become almost
universal. Poverty has been reduced, but inequality remains
extremely high. Moreover, the country has become more
violent and prone to disorder. Meanwhile, the state has
become weaker and less present where it should be present
(in the slums and urban fringes), and more present where it
should not be. The author captures remarkably well the
transformations of the 1990s, when Brazil deepened its
insertion into the global economy, opening to imports and to
foreign direct investment on the one hand, and increasing
its competitiveness on the other. This led to a great
expansion of exports, and to the return of large trade
surpluses, increasing considerably the share of trade in the
country's gross domestic product. However, there is an
unfinished agenda with two main imperatives. The first is
the need to enter a new and sustainable growth cycle; the
second concern is the reform agenda, especially the economic
and institutional reforms that are highlighted by this book.
Finally, social and environmental issues must remain a high priority.