A Conversation with Governor of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, <br> Yeda Crusius
Yeda Rorato Crusius, an economist and university professor, was elected governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul on October 2006. A leading member of the Brazilian Social Democrat Party (PSDB), Governor Crusius is the first woman elected to the governorship of the state.
Overview
In an effort to provide Brazilian leaders with greater exposure to the Washington policy community and advance understanding of Brazilian issues in the United States, the Brazil Institute continued its leadership discussion series with a high-level meeting with Governor of the State of Rio Grande do Sul Yeda Crusius. Among the various objectives of her trip to North America, Governor Crusius met with President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick and representatives from the Bank to sign-off on an extension of a US$1 billion credit to reschedule the state's public debt—a deal that has been made possible by her successful fiscal reforms efforts. The Wilson Center discussion focused on the state of Rio Grande do Sul's fiscal and budgetary prerogatives as well as government initiatives to increase investment and spur economic growth.
Yeda Rorato Crusius, an economist and university professor, was elected governor of the state of Rio Grande do Sul on October 2006. A leading member of the Brazilian Social Democrat Party (PSDB), Governor Crusius is the first woman elected to the governorship of the state. She was voted into office on a platform of fiscal discipline. Until she took office in January 2007, Rio Grande do Sul had run a 35-year budget deficit, had the worst fiscal balance of the 27 states in Brazil, and the smallest rate of public investment. Governor Crusius has used her mandate to pursue and successfully implement necessary fiscal reforms. Under her leadership, the state has reigned-in government spending, controlled a 36-year fiscal deficit and increased public investment.
Rio Grande do Sul is a well-developed and economically-advanced state located in the southern most region of Brazil. Governor Crusius remarked that the state's GDP per capita, human development index (HDI), average life expectancy, literacy rate, and average years of education remain well above Brazil's national average. In 2007, the state received more than US$ 3.8 billion in new investments. Nonetheless, as a result of Rio Grand do Sul's deteriorating fiscal balance, inadequate rate of public investment and chronic budget deficits, the state has suffered erratic economic growth and seen a decline in some of its human development indicators. To address these concerns, Governor Crusius set out an ambitious agenda for her administration. The principal issues she aims to address involve revamping the state's aging infrastructure; boosting agricultural production by promoting better water resource management; and increasing the competitiveness of the state by doubling the current rate of public investment to a rate of 10% (of government spending) by 2010.
Hosted By
Brazil Institute
The Brazil Institute—the only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington—aims to deepen understanding of Brazil’s complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and U.S. institutions across all sectors. Our mission is to provide thoughtful leadership and innovative ideas to help democracies evolve and enhance their capacity to deliver results. We achieve this by producing independent research and programs that bridge the gap between scholarship and policy, while serving as a hub for policymakers, scholars, and private sector leaders. Read more
Latin America Program
The Wilson Center’s prestigious Latin America Program provides non-partisan expertise to a broad community of decision makers in the United States and Latin America on critical policy issues facing the Hemisphere. The Program provides insightful and actionable research for policymakers, private sector leaders, journalists, and public intellectuals in the United States and Latin America. To bridge the gap between scholarship and policy action, it fosters new inquiry, sponsors high-level public and private meetings among multiple stakeholders, and explores policy options to improve outcomes for citizens throughout the Americas. Drawing on the Wilson Center’s strength as the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum, the Program serves as a trusted source of analysis and a vital point of contact between the worlds of scholarship and action. Read more
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