Publications /
Research Paper

Back
Download PDF
The Challenge of Fostering Innovation and Accelerating Economic Growth in Brazil
Authors
Sérgio R. R. de Queiroz
Nicholas S. Vonortas
Otaviano Canuto
May 9, 2025
Related topics: 
Economy
Macroeconomics and regulation
Sectorial policies and structural transformation
Americas and Carribean
South America

This paper aims to demonstrate how certain transformations in the international economy since the 1980s¾notably the globalization of firms and industries¾combined with a set of domestic challenges, disrupted the path of industrial and technological development that Brazil had pursued since the 1930s. In essence, growth strategies based on the scale of the domestic market ceased to be effective. The innovation and economic challenges the country now faces cannot be addressed without a clear understanding of these processes.

The analysis carries important policy implications, centered on the need for less protectionism and greater internationalization of firms. Reversing the inward-looking orientation of THE Brazilian industry is a key objective for any policy aiming to stimulate increased business R&D and innovation.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Download PDF
    The Challenge of Fostering Innovation and Accelerating Economic Growth in Brazil
    Authors
    Sérgio R. R. de Queiroz
    Nicholas S. Vonortas
    Otaviano Canuto
    May 9, 2025
    This paper aims to demonstrate how certain transformations in the international economy since the 1980s¾notably the globalization of firms and industries¾combined with a set of domestic challenges, disrupted the path of industrial and technological development that Brazil had pursued since the 1930s. In essence, growth strategies based on the scale of the domestic market ceased to be effective. The innovation and economic challenges the country now faces cannot be addressed without ...
  • Debt from a Southern Perspective
    Akram Zaoui & Anahi Wiedenbrüg
    November 24, 2023
    Debt in the Global South was a key point of discussion during the last annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund which took place in Marrakesh on October 2023. Whi ...
  • Download PDF
    The Brazilian Economy’s Double Disease*
    Authors
    Otaviano Canuto
    October 26, 2023
    The Brazilian economy is stuck in a so-called middle-income trap—growth that stalled long before Brazil caught up with the living standards of the highly industrialized countries. After exhibiting a stellar performance in the decades before the 1980s, the economy has since been unable to sustain growth for long periods. The predicament can be summarized using a medical analogy: Brazil has been suffering from both productivity anemia and public sector bloat. On the one hand, it hasn ...
  • Download PDF
    The Dollar-Renminbi Tango: The Impacts of Argentina’s Potential Dollarization on its Relations with China
    Authors
    Xiaofeng Wang
    Otaviano Canuto
    October 13, 2023
    The surprising victory of Javier Milei, the unconventional ‘anarcho-capitalist’ candidate, in the August primaries ahead of Argentina’s October 2023 general election, can be largely credited to his commitment to dollarize the Argentine economy, a move perceived as the ultimate solution to bring an end to the nation's economic turmoil. The potential shift from the local currency to the dollar has sparked concerns about Argentina's bilateral currency swap line with China. This swap l ...
  • Download PDF
    Inflation targeting and public debt reduction for emerging countries: a treatment effect approach
    Authors
    Mahmoud Arbouch
    May 11, 2023
    This paper aims to investigate the impact of an inflation targeting framework adoption by the central bank, on the reduction of public debt ratios in emerging countries, through the potential discipline-enhancing effect of inflation targeting on the conduct of fiscal policy in general. The impact evaluation method used is the Propensity Score Matching (PSM), which allows the evaluation of the treatment effect of inflation targeting on fiscal discipline, in terms of public debt reduc ...
  • Download PDF
    Ciblage de l’inflation et réduction de la dette publique pour les pays émergents : une approche par effet de traitement
    Authors
    Mahmoud Arbouch
    December 30, 2022
    L’objectif de ce papier est d’essayer d’examiner si l’implémentation du cadre de ciblage de l’inflation par la banque centrale, permet une réduction de la dette publique dans les pays émergents, à travers l'effet disciplinant du ciblage sur la conduite de la politique budgétaire en général. Pour ce faire, la méthode d’évaluation d’impact utilisée est l’appariement par score de propension ou Propensity Score Matching (PSM), qui permet l’évaluation de l’effet de traitement ...
  • Will Latin America Return to Mediocre Growth After Shocks?
    Authors
    Otaviano Canuto
    October 24, 2022
    The pandemic has hit Latin America hard, and its economic recovery has been slower than in other regions. In addition to the legacy of higher public indebtedness, the pandemic left scars on the labor market and the human capital formation of future workers. The COVID-19 crisis has receded in Latin America but has left a significant toll. Reported deaths from the pandemic are currently low and converging to global levels. The average excess mortality during the pandemic was among t ...
  • Argentina Avoids Falling into Arrears with the IMF
    Authors
    Otaviano Canuto
    January 31, 2022
    On January 28, both Argentina’s government and the International Monetary Fund staff made announcements about an understanding on new support program. Meanwhile, in addition to the payment of an amortization due on January 28, another payment is also expected in the first week of February. Both payments relate to the previous package, approved in 2018 and substantially disbursed thereafter. Non-payment could sour relations at a critical moment for a new program to be approved by the ...
  • Could the U.S. and China Spoil Latin America’s Rebound?
    Authors
    Otaviano Canuto
    November 5, 2021
    A slowdown in China and winding down of U.S. stimulus threaten a much-needed regional rebound. First appeared at Americas Quarterly The last year has seen some good news for Latin American economies. The region’s recovery has been stronger than expected, and growth forecasts by the World Bank and IMF have improved since six months ago. Vaccination campaigns and fiscal support have sparked an economic rebound since the second half of last year, despite an apparent loss of momentum ...
  • Global Recovery May Not Be Enough for Latin America: Three risks threaten another economic and social lost decade for the region
    Authors
    Otaviano Canuto
    Pepe Zhang
    Otaviano Canuto
    June 7, 2021
    First appeared at AMERICAS QUARTERLY A growing global imbalance threatens to further weaken already vulnerable emerging markets. The massive vaccine disparities between advanced and developing economies may exacerbate what the IMF has dubbed “divergent recoveries”—with dire consequences for Latin America. Despite being home to only 8% of the world’s population, the region has already suffered nearly 30% of all global COVID-19 deaths. The pandemic has also hit GDP and employment ha ...