COLONIAL HERITAGE, INDUSTRIALIZATION AND RESET: STAGES OF BRAZILIAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

From its discovery in the 15th century until the third decade of the 20th century (1930), the Brazilian economy maintained its position in international trade as a specialized producer of agricultural goods. From 1930 to the late 1970s, Brazil's productive structure underwent substantial changes due to its industrialization. After a decade (1980) of instability, stagnation, and persistent inflation, the country's economy faced a period of hyperinflation in the early 1990s. This response culminated in the implementation of an orthodox macroeconomic stabilization plan. This, coupled with a more intense trade liberalization, led, especially in the manufacturing industry, toward a protracted process of productive restructuring. From then on, a combination of diverse factors contributed to a declining share of IT in the national GDP, as well as the reprimarization of exports. The objective of this article was to provide a historical retrospective of Brazilian economic development and the influence of its colonial past. Regarding the research methodology, we used a historical-descriptive approach supplemented by secondary statistical data obtained through consultation with national and international websites. The quantitative research relied on raw data, meaning it was not subjected to any statistical processing. Based on the arguments and facts presented, we found that Brazilian economic development is characterized by a pendulum-like movement, sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating.