New Economic History Book Challenges Narrative of Brazil's Lost Decades

A new economic history book titled "Entre Crises," written by professors Leonardo Weller and Thales Zamberlan Pereira from the Getulio Vargas Foundation's School of Economics of São Paulo, argues that the contrast between Brazil's mid 20th century growth and its recent stagnation is overly simplistic. The authors suggest that while GDP per capita and productivity grew significantly faster between 1941 and 1980, averaging over 4 percent annually compared to less than 1 percent between 1981 and 2023, this growth did not translate into proportional social advancement.

Data cited in the book shows that in 1980, the average life expectancy for Brazilians was 62.5 years, which was equivalent to the life expectancy in the United States in 1940. In contrast, the period following redemocratization saw a radical reduction in poverty despite low economic productivity. In 1984, 45 percent of the population lived below the minimum calorie intake line, but by 2014, that figure dropped to less than 10 percent.

Weller notes that successful public policies such as the SUS and Bolsa Família remained intact despite various crises, including the recession during Dilma Rousseff's government and the low growth under Jair Bolsonaro. He argues that while poverty increased during recent crises, the country did not return to the social conditions seen before the 1990s. The book aims to explain the paradox of how Brazil became a more socially equitable country during a period of low economic growth.