20 Dec, 2019

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Brazil

Brazil is the ninth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the largest in Latin America. It is a member of the G20 and Mercosur. The country is rich in natural resources including gold, uranium, iron ore, and timber. Services is the largest sector (62 percent of GDP in 2018) followed by manufacturing (9.7 percent) and agriculture (4.4 percent). In 2017, its largest export sectors were agriculture (36 percent of total exports), minerals (18 percent), ICT services (13 percent), and vehicles (7.8 percent). The largest individual exports were soya beans (9.7 percent), ICT services (8.2 percent), iron ore (7.5 percent), and oil (6.9 percent). Its largest export partners were China (21.8 percent), Argentina (7.7 percent), and the USA (3.5 percent percent). Its largest goods imports are oil (7 percent) and car parts (4.3 percent).By the 1900s Brazil produced up to 75 percent of the world's coffee beans but when the price of coffee halved in 1929-30 and the great depression hit, the economy fell into recession. After World War Two, the country turned towards protection and import substitution. This led to industrialisation and high growth but by the 1980s industry had become uncompetitive and the economy suffered stagflation as its terms of trade decreased in response to the 1970s oil shocks. The government also borrowed heavily during this period and by the 1990s, the economy was experiencing hyperinflation. Comprehensive reforms in the 1990s, including increased fiscal discipline, liberalisation, and a new currency regime saw the country return to growth. From 2000 to 2012 as the resource boom hit, Brazil became one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with an average annual GDP growth rate of over 5 percent. This pulled 29 million people out of poverty and led to a decline in inequality. When the global financial crisis hit, Brazil was in a good position to counteract its effects. In 2015, the country experienced one of its worst recessions as resource prices fell and confidence collapsed. The economy has since recovered and with much needed pension reforms passing, conditions are in place for renewed growth.

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Its population in 2018 was 210,867,954 [1]