NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... since the beginning of eighties, the profitability of industrial manufacturing began to sink rapidly, because of the advancement of informational technologies. Also, by the end of seventies, the potential investors became discouraged by the fact that the new Brazilian government was going to implement a certain socialist principles into the economy. Because the country was relying on loan debentures in seventies and early eighties, it eventually led to the situation, when Brazil's foreign debt became a very serious burden for its economy. The year 1982 marks the time when Brazilian government began using the principle of indexation, in order to maintain the economic stability. The relationship between the salaries and the prices is being regulated by the Ministry of Economics, although in last few years, the ideological bankruptcy of such policy is becoming apparent for everyone.
One of the most important factors, which influenced the development of Brazilian economy, is the abundance of a workforce. But majority of the workforce in Brazil cannot be regarded as highly professional. This is because, traditionally, in Brazil, the government always used to pay more attention to the improving quality of high education, at the expense of evenly providing the possibility to obtain elementary education for all Brazilian citizens, without regard to their socio-political status. It resulted in situation when about 50 % of workforce in Brazil is not qualified. The percentage of educational spending's, by the Brazilian government, falls behind of what it is in many other countries of South America. The 20 % of Brazilians are illiterate and only 12 % posses a university degree. (5) This fact can also be linked to Brazil's past as colony.
Up until 1950, this country remained largely agricultural. The need for the qualified personnel appeared suddenly, after the government decided to turn Brazil into the industrialized nation. At that time, such personal could only be brought from abroad. It is the need of economy that explains the policy welcoming European immigrants, on the part of Brazilian government, at the time. And it has nothing to do with the alleged racism of Brazil's military rulers. The very important factor of Brazilian economic realities is the fact that it is highly urbanized nation.
In 2000, the 80 % of all Brazilians lived in towns, while in 1950, there were only 36 % of them. The rapid growth of cities' population, which comes as the result of uneducated people from the rural areas moving in, made the social problems in Brazil very acute. The biggest cities in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro and San Paolo, suffer from the highest crime rate in the whole world. The contemporary economical dynamics in Brazil suffer from the lack of its own technological base. As it was being mentioned earlier, for twenty years, the Brazilian government kept the nation's economy growing by constant financial infusions, which came from abroad. But the huge industrial projects, where the government invested heavily, failed to become profitable.
In fifties and sixties, the Brazilian economy fully depended on acquiring the technology from abroad, but since the beginning of seventies, it began developing its own technological base. Still, the amount of investments in this very important field of economy, was never even roughly adequate. For example, in 1979 it amounted for 989 $ million, which equaled to 0. 6 % of GNP, at the time. (6) By 2000, the situation has slightly improved with the government spending six times as much, for the same purpose. But given the size and the economic potential of Brazil, it is still a ridiculous amount. This is despite the fact that Brazil possesses a high technological capability. Brazil is listed among the biggest exporters of arms and ammunition, which would not be possible without possessing a modern technology.
Also, Brazil is developing its own space program. Its geographical location, gives Brazil a very important advantage, when it comes to launching space rockets. (2) Brazil's oil deposits are considered among the largest in the world. The oil industry in this country accounts for 40 % of GNP. 80 % of it, in one form or another, is controlled by the government. (7) The private oil exploration companies are also allowed to have its share in oil business, but the government had imposed many restrictions on their activity. For example, they are only allowed to participate in dealing with oil, at its final stage. Mostly, this is confined to reselling the end product.
But again, the excessive governmental involvement into the oil industry, prevents it from becoming fully efficient. The oil crisis of seventies had prompted Brazilian government to drastically increase the output of the oil industry. By 2000 the oil production in Brazil had reached 850. 000 barrels a day (8) This branch of Brazilian industry has traditionally remained the most attractive for the foreign investors. The recent political changes affected Brazilian oil industry more than any other. The government proposed its privatization, but there are powerful political forces that resist it. The amount of hydroelectricity, produced by Brazil, is the biggest in the world and it amounts to 255 million kilowatts.
The world's most powerful hydroelectric plant Itaipu is located at the river Parana. It was being built in 1966, as the result of an agreement between the governments of Brazil and Paraguay. At present time, Itaipu's 18 fully functional turbo generators produce 12, 6 million kilowatts. (9) But it is also true that many other hydroelectric plants, which were being built in other parts of the country, never even came close to the completion stage of their construction. This is because the government simply lacked the financial means to complete, what it had originally initiated. In order to balance the consumption of the gasoline with the production of oil, the Brazilian government decided to find another alternative for the gas.
Such product became the ethanol, which was being obtained out of sugarcane's. Although it was never able to acquire the status of a true alternative to the gasoline, it helped to drastically reduce its consumption. By 1985, after 10 years, since the government began investing in ethanol producing program, the 500. 000 new jobs were being created, as the result. 2. 5 million of cars in Brazil use ethanol as fuel. Also, the gasoline, which can be bought at the gas stations in Brazil, contains 20 % of ethanol. Brazil was also able to benefit on selling the ethanol producing technologies into another countries. (10) In the last two decades, the new branches of Brazilian industry began to rapidly develop. The most important, among them, is rightfully considered to be the auto industry.
At present time, it yields about 2. 000. 000 vehicles a year. But what it the most important, these cars are 100 % Brazilian made. Brazil is the 7 th largest manufacturer of automobiles in the world, although it produces them largely for the internal market. (11) Our survey of Brazilian economy will not be complete without mentioning Brazil's forestry. This country posses the largest resources of mahogany tree, which is being valued, throughout the world, for its strength and beautiful color. This sector of Brazilian economy is also very important for the country.
In 1994 Brazil became the third largest exporter of softwood, after U. S. and Canada (12) Conclusion: The political and economical specifics derive from each other in Brazil. We cannot talk about economy, without understanding that it is defined by the politics, which in its turn, are defined by Brazilian colonial legacy. This legacy is responsible for the social disproportion, within the society, with many Brazilians being barely able to meet ends, while living in the state of constant poverty. The mentality of an average Brazilian, of European descend, still regards the Portugal as the mother country.
Brazilian largest cities started out as ports that were needed to send a large amounts of colonial goods to Europe. This defined their geographic location on the Atlantic coast. At the same time, even now, 30 % of Brazilian territory remains unexplored. The fate of Brazilian aboriginal people has never been a concern for the government, which never considered them as having any political rights, at all.
The development of Brazilian industrial infrastructure has always been thought of as the priority, by the government, while the social aspects of it were mostly neglected. This is why many economists suggest that the Brazilian government was employing the colonial administrative methods, well after Brazil has gained an independence. Only now, the socio-political situation in Brazil begins to reflect the fact this country is a sovereign nation. Footnotes: Charles Wagley, An Introduction to Brazil (New York: Columbia University Press, 1971). 51 64.
Dauril Alden Colonial Roots of Modern Brazil (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985). 93. The McKeever Institute Economic Policy Analisys. Brasil: Economic Policy Analisys. Part 2. Individual Policies. 2004. Nov 26, 2006.
web Paulo Prada, Brazil Cabinet Does a Turn. Mar. 27, 2005. The Boston Globe. Nov. 26, 2006. web The McKeever Institute Economic Policy Analisys. Brasil: Economic Policy Analisys.
Part 2. Education. 2004. Nov 26, 2006. web Joel Wolfe, Working Women, Working Men: Sao Paulo and the Rise of Brazil's Industrial Working Class, 1900 - 1955. (Durham: Duke University Press, 1993). 20 - 21.
Maria Alves, State and Opposition in Military Brazil. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985) 95. The McKeever Institute Economic Policy Analisys. Brasil: Economic Policy Analisys. Industry. 2004. Nov 26, 2006. web Joel Wolfe, Working Women, Working Men: Sao Paulo and the Rise of Brazil's Industrial Working Class, 1900 - 1955. (Durham: Duke University Press, 1993). 213.
Geraldo Samor, As Brazil Fills Up on Ethanol, It Weans off Imports. Jan. 16, 2006. Yale Global Online. Nov. 26, 2006. web Helen Shapiro, The Mechanics of Brazil's Auto Industry.
Apr. 2, 1996. Reports on the Americas. Hartford Web Publishing. Nov. 26, 2006. web The World Forestry Center, The Forests of Brazil. 2003.
November 26, 3006. web Outline Introduction introduces the readers to the issues, which are going to be discussed. Politics analyses the socio-political developments in Brazil from the historical and current prospective's. Economy gives a brief survey of Brazilian economy and also discusses the strength and weakness of its different branches. Conclusion summarizes the work. Bibliography: Alden, Dauril Colonial Roots of Modern Brazil Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985.
Alves, Maria Helena Moreira. State and Opposition in Military Brazil. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1985. Glusing, Jens Working Class Hero, Wall Street Darling.
Oct. 30, 2006. Spiegel International Online. November 26, 2006. web Samor, Geraldo As Brazil Fills Up on Ethanol, It Weans off Imports Jan. 16, 2006. Yale Global Online.
Nov. 26, 2006. web Power, Timothy Political Right in Post authoritarian Brazil. 2003. Journal of Third World Studies. Nov. 26, 2006 web Paulo Brazil Cabinet Does a Turn. Mar. 27, 2005. The Boston Globe.
Nov. 26, 2006. web Nabuco, Joaquim Abolitionism: The Brazilian Antislavery Struggle. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1977. Stepan, Alfred Authoritarian Brazil: Origins, Policies, and Future. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1973. Salad, Francois Crisis and Rebirth of the Left. 2005.
International Viewpoint. Nov. 26, 2006. web Shapiro, Helen The Mechanics of Brazil's Auto Industry. Apr. 2, 1996. Reports on the Americas.
Hartford Web Publishing. Nov. 26, 2006. web Wainwrigt, Hilary Corruption of Hope in Brazil. Oct. 26, 2005.
The Nation. Nov. 26, 2006. web Wagley, Charles An Introduction to Brazil Rev. ed. New York: Columbia University Press, 1971. Wolfe, Joel Working Women, Working Men: Sao Paulo and the Rise of Brazil's Industrial Working Class, 1900 - 1955.
Durham: Duke University Press, 1993. Brasil: Economic Policy Analisys (2004). The McKeever Institute Economic Policy Analisys. Nov. 26, 2006. web The Forests of Brazil. 2003. The World Forestry Center.
November 26, 3006. web
Free research essays on topics related to: economic policy, sao paulo, boston globe, brazilian government, socio political
Research essay sample on Sao Paulo Brazilian Government
