On Tuesday, November 13^th, the Brazil Institute hosted a half-day conference on what Brazil’s undeniable economic and political realities mean for President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, his administration, and the country.

In the first session, the International Monetary Fund discussed its finding from the latest Article IV consultation with Brazil and the prospects for economic and fiscal reform. The second session took a broader look at the current challenges facing the Brazilian economy, including an analysis of its structural characteristics and key sectors, with editors and contributors of the Oxford Handbook of the Brazilian Economy (2018). In the third and final session, panelists discussed the capacity of the new administration to navigate Brazil’s changing political landscape.

Opening Remarks

Paulo Sotero, Director, Brazil Institute, Wilson Center

9:00am – 10:15am

Session I: IMF Outlook for Brazil and the Political Economy of Reform

Article IV Staff Report Overview

Antonio Spilimbergo, Assistant Director and Mission Chief for Brazil, IMF

Structural Reform Priorities for Brazil

Damiano Sandri, Senior Economist, IMF

Rightsizing the Government Wage Bill

Iza Karpowicz, Senior Economist, IMF

10:30am – 11:45am

Session II: Key Sectors of the Brazilian Economy, with the editors of the Oxford Handbook on the Brazilian Economy

Introduction to the Handbook & Key Policy Findings and their Relevance to the New Administration

Edmund Amann, Professor of Brazilian Studies, Leiden University Regional AspectsCarlos Azzoni, Professor of Economics, University of São Paulo (USP) 

Innovation, Life Sciences, and the Agricultural Sector

Geraldo Martha, Researcher, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa)

11:45am – 1:00pm

Session III: Navigating Brazil’s Changing Political Landscape

 Paulo Sotero, Director, Brazil InstituteDavid Fleischer, Professor Emeritus, University of BrasiliaChristopher Garman, Managing Director for the Americas, Eurasia Group

Image by Agência Brasil