Brazzil

This is puzzling. In 2001 our GDP was measured to be over US$ 1.1 trillion. In 2005 it is measured to be US$ 604.8 billion, almost less than half. Obviously, the problem is the value of our currency as measured against the dollar.

Now, the trouble I have with this way of measuring wealth is the fact that the value of currencies change daily. Even the dollar cannot be used as the absolute standard since the dollar fluctuates in relation to other currencies (Euro, for example) also. And, some countries do manipulate their currencies artificially, forcing the values up or down.

The total raw output of Brazil’s economy did not drop from 2001 to 2005 it actually grew during that period with greater production in all the sectors of the economy.

This could be compared (although someone can claim to be a rough comparison) with using, for example, different metric systems to measure the average height of the populations of the countries of the world. Imagine that the metric system in each country fluctuates daily in relation to all the other systems. One day, for example, Brazilians would be taller than Mexicans and the other day smaller. Of course, there is an actual physical difference no matter what system you use.

I visited the CIA World Facts (Updated for 2005) and collected the following information (they are all 2004 estimates):

USA: purchasing power parity - $11.75 trillion - Purchasing power parity per capita - $40,100

Canada: purchasing power parity - $1.023 trillion - Purchasing power parity per capita - $31,500

Brazil: purchasing power parity - $1.492 trillion - purchasing power parity per capita - $8,100

Mexico: purchasing power parity - $1.006 trillion – purchasing power parity per capita - $9,600

Where do we really stand?

Your point is perfectly relevant: in terms of GDP at PPP (Purchase Power Parity) - at present the most reliable measure of a country's total output - in fact, Brazil stands ninth among the world's largest economies, and its GDP is pretty close to that of such heavily industrialized countries as the UK and Italy, as you can see in the 2005 update of CIA World Facts too.

Now imagine where brazil would be with a good and decent government!

Brazil functions in spite of Brasilia, not because of it...

More to it, my friend: Imagine where Brazil would be with a good government and a people with a progressive mind in general! So far, we have a lot of people in Brazil with the wrong idea that only the government is responsible to build a country. It is the whole society all together. There are a lot of people really waiting for a miracle instead of helping to make it happen.

Sergio

... and that's why they always elect a messiah.

If you wait for the government to lead your country, you will wait forever. It is the will of the people that drives a country, not the blowhards in Brasilia, Paris, Washington, Ottawa, and Tokyo.

Take your future in your own hands

Things are steadily improving. Many Brazilians are gradually become more conscious of the role as active players in the development of our nation and do not wait for any miraculous plan from the government to solve all of their problems.
Democracy is a vital part of this process. Without democracy it is impossible for a nation to become fully mature and to have conscious, active and responsible citizens. During most of the last century dictators have governed Brazil what, in my opinion, disrupted the normal development of our society, making Brazilians too dependent of their governments (such kind of believe was strongly preached by Vargas, for instance).
However, with a healthy democratic process, things are improving. Corruption is no longer seen as an unavoidable part of the government. People are realizing that hard work, free markets, healthy competition and exporting is the way to go.
Each time I go back to Brazil I become more and more optimistic, things are getting better.

I've been living abroad for the last 14 years. Every time I go back to Brazil, I see improvements all over the place. I don't see the political crisis in Brazil now as an "all bad thing". Things will get worse in some areas before getting better. It is a good sign when people don't expect miracles from their government; responsible citizenship is at work in Brazil.
On the not so positive note: We should feel outraged when we hear that there are 14-year old Brazilians kids trying to scape miserable economic conditions in the country only to find death in a river in Mexico. Where is all the money gained from Brazil's trade surplus going? Why is it that FIESP feels that the government is exercising abuse of power when the PF goes after Daslu for several law/criminal charges? Enough venting for today! But if I plan to go back to Brazil in 20 years, I better do something now!

TYPICAL LATIN AMERICAN CRAP = WE'RE POOR BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT IS VERY CORRUPT

the things is few latin americans do something about it, I agree with the post above

they expect the government to build their nations for them.

Now, the trouble I have with this way of measuring wealth is the fact that the value of currencies change daily. Even the dollar cannot be used as the absolute standard since the dollar fluctuates in relation to other currencies (Euro, for example) also. And, some countries do manipulate their currencies artificially, forcing the values up or down.
This fluctuation should not be a problem since that doenot change the ranking position.

You have to remember that 40% of bussiness in Brazil are with any kind of registration or payment of taxes


Go around Sao paulo and will find people living in 300.000 reais aparmment and claim that in the income tax that they only make 12000 year


if you ad all this underground money will have a GDP of probable 1.5 trillion.

Actually, the GDP of Brazil is already over US$1.5 trillion in terms of purchasing power parity (2005).

Another Re: "This fluctuation should not be a problem since that doe not change the ranking position."

It is when the World Bank uses the value of the Real in relation to the Dollar to rank Brazil. But my point is that this method does not look scientifically founded.

Sergio

Please tell me how a country is supposed to grow economically if in its face, the politicians that run it are EXTREMELY corrupt? Come on! Also let's get real: there is corruption, or there has been, in every single land in this world - just some governments are better at keeping it a secret. But in Brazil, GOLLY!, it's the other way around. Just look at that guy who was friends with, or related to, one of PT's big names: he was trying to flee the country with R$450,000 on him! Please agree with me: that was ridiculous. But what's more absurd is that the guy barely spent a night in jail and was giving crappy excuses to the press and every Brazilian citizen! Is he going to go back to jail? No, of course not! Are the people he was taking the money for going to get in trouble? No, obviously not! The Justice System doesn't work in Brazil - it only does if you're a nobody and have no connections! A guy that stole a used vehicle worth $8,000 Reais will go to jail; a politician that steals daily and detours money in extravagant amounts is still roaming free and smiling about it. We all know that 450 thousand Reais was stolen from the pockets of those poor and honest Brazilians who pay their taxes. It's a terrible feeling to know your country could be an economic powerhouse but it isn't because of thieves in high places. Lula (our President) said he would bring change and he's governing the exact same way other presidents did. What a mess!

Our"judicial system" is one of the most corrupt in the world! Let's not forget the President of the PFL who was caught off guard with a lot of money from the followers of the Assembly of God. It is amazing how much money God needs! We should just move on: let's demand prison time for corrupt people, politicians , judges, no matter who they are. Maybe the best legacy of the Work Party has been the "creation" of a whole generations of Brazilians who now feel outraged by corruption and impunity. This is something new! Because corruption did not start with the PT, right? I don't understand why people feel so perplexed by these corruptions accusations? They have always been there! But now, as a society, we have better mechanisms to detect them! Don't forget that we still have middle class young "boys "(criminals) in Rio whose parents are influential enough that are above the law. Nobody can't touch them!

Nail a few of these bastards with a long prison stretch, and it might rattle a few cages. In the US the ex CEO of Worldcom just got a 25 year sentence for his crimes. You better believe that will stick in the mind of his cohorts. The day you see that happen in Brazil is the day you can have some hope that the corruption is being dealt with seriously. Otherwise, keep dreaming.

The other problem I see is that the (we) Brazilians think that only the president makes the government. The Congress and the Judiciary power are also part of the government. So, Lula , or who else is active as the president, is near to powerless if he/she does not have any real support from the other sectors of the government. You cannot be a single player in a government of a country as big and complex as Brazil.

Besides, lack of patriotism from those politicians is disgusting. They should have honor and dignity and know what that means.

It is when the World Bank uses the value of the Real in relation to the Dollar to rank Brazil. But my point is that this method does not look scientifically founded.
No its not. If you just think about it for a moment you will see it.

Perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by business people, academics and risk analysts place Brazil at below average level of corruption as compared to the rest of the world. That's not good, but it's heartening to see investigations and convictions of corrupt government officials in Brazil. You're right, they need to be caught and sent to prison.

You can brag about the US, but there's plenty of corruption there. All of the following countries rate better than the US, with the Scandinavian countries rating significantly better: Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Austria, United Kingdom, Canada, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Australia, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, New Zealand, Denmark, Iceland, Finland. The level of corruption is worse since the rise of the hypocritical right-wing Christians in politics in the US. The Bush administration is the most dishonest and corrupt administration we've seen since Nixon. Indeed, the Bushies make Nixon look like a statesman. The Bushies are raping the public. They need to be caught and sent to prison.

Yes, there's a myth of the strongman president. The reality is that the office of president is weak in Brazil. That's not a bad thing entirely. No one wants an all-powerful president, except maybe radicals on the right and left. Political competition along with checks and balances are essential to a democracy, but it appears that in Brazil some reform may be appropriate to strengthen the office of the president a bit, because it is nearly impossible for a president to get things done according to the platform on which the president is elected. That impotence leads to frustration and accusations like those cast on Lula of being a turn coat or worse a "fraud." The notion that Lula wants an authoritarian regime is completely absurd. He understands as much as anyone could the ills of a totalitarian regime. He lived through it and fought to get rid of that in Brazil. Brazil doesn't need a strongman president, but does it would seem need some reform that would make the job of advancing policy less impossible.

"July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Brazil's unemployment rate fell to its lowest level on record in June, as rising wages prompted fewer Brazilians to seek new jobs."

That should help Lula's approval rating.

Use any ranking you want in placing Brasil in the mix, but reality is still the final measure of any advanced society.
Our reality is that this country is not a true industrial or technical entity and relies on protecting industries that are light years behind the rest of the world.
Duties and taxes on world class equipment necessary to make our industries more competitive are amongst the highest in the world.
Oh, and do not forget jurors....
We're headed nowhere until there is a concerted effort to raise our global ratings of competitiveness. A floating currency is not the aspirin that going to fix this headache.
What we need is an agressive plan to make Brasil a major player in industrial and technical expertise...
Play there and we play with the Big Boys

Then try dealing with the US govt. Corruption does not even begin to describe the bulls**t that the AMerican govt is up to. Starting wars all over the planet, trigger happy as hell. America uses the Third World and it's people to test her bombs. They love dropping bombs on anyone who "disagrees" with f-cked up American policy.

America is run by true maniacs. The American people have no future or security. Greedy corporate honchoes will sell your job out from under you in a heartbeat if they can find somebody else to do the work for less.

Come back in 50 years and you will find the American people living in dire poverty once "globalization" reaches it peaks and the jobs (which are rather s**tty to begin with) go fully overseas.

American politicians make Brazil's look like the heavenly choir.

This article was written with datas from 2003 and 2004. The World Bank had released the 2006 figures and BRAZIL IS, according to the 2006 repport, THE 8TH BIGGEST economy in the world, like some people or not! The problems is that this richness is not well divided!!!