Pedro Cezar Dutra Fonseca

A research note on accounting in Brazil in the context of political, economic and social transformations, 1860-1964

From 1860 to 1964, but particularly after 1930, Brazilian society changed from an agrarian to an industrial society and from an emphasis on the export sector to becoming focused primarily on the domestic market. During this period, there were significant changes in accounting that were largely imposed by the State. This note explores the main political, economic and social factors that influenced the development of accounting in Brazil during this period. In a legalist country such as Brazil the development of accounting cannot be effectively studied without considering how accounting affects, and is affected by, the political and social context. The note ends with a call for further accounting history studies about Brazil based on archives and primary sources.

O Estado e suas razões: o II PND

The State and its reasons: the 2 nd PND. This paper intends to contribute to the debate on the reasons why the Geisel administration (1974-78) chose — as it faced an adverse conjuncture — an accelerated growth agenda which was materialized in the 2 nd PND (National Development Plan). In order to do so, it resorts to a methodological definition which is based upon an institutionalist approach and favors the interaction between the political and the economic variables. Contradicting the literature that interprets the strong presence of the State and the regional decentralization of the 2 nd PND as signs of neopatrimonialism, it is advocated that this category of analysis is inadequate to explain the government’s choice, although this aspect is embedded in the Brazilian social-historical formation. The political rationality of the plan must be investigated in the conjuncture itself, marked by the liberalization project, which does not clash with the plan’s economic rationality — on the contrary, it is complemented by it.

As origens e as vertentes formadoras do pensamento cepalino

This paper aims at refuting the current thesis in literature according to which the theories advocated by the economists linked to Cepal in the 1950s and 1960s are due to the direct influence of Keynes. Thus, besides showing differences between the two theoretical frameworks it shows that long before Cepal was founded or the General theory was published, other theses later acclaimed as theirs already had followers in Latin America. Then it calls attention to the complexity of the origin of the Latin American structuralist thought and raises hypotheses about which chains or theories would have influenced it more directly on its beginning. The conclusion is that, more than innovating, the contribution of Cepal was to systematize, within an academically recognized research program, ideas that already existed, though in a fragmented shape, in Latin America.

Brasil (1955-2005): 25 anos de catching up, 25 anos de falling behind

. The 1955-1980 period, by means of international funding, allowed catching up with the paradigm in maturation within the fourth technological revo-lution. However, in this period, it was determined the main debilitating elements for the country’s entrance in the new techno-economical paradigm of the fifth techno-logical revolution which emerged in the middle of the 70s. It is in the strategy to internationalize the economy, granting the mutinational companies the key-sectors of the national economy dynamics during the catching up period, the main element of dependence in the journey that conditions the current performance, responsible for technology subordination and keeps the Brazilian economy with low dynamism. Keywords: Brazilin industrialization;

Legitimidade e credibilidade: impasses da política econômica do governo Goulart

Most of the literature on the Goulart Administration relates the low growth rates and rise of inflation in the period to structural reasons, while the economic policy is usually viewed as erratic and hesitant. In opposition to these theses, we attempt to restore the importance of the economic policy inside the conjuncture, showing its rationality which is manifested in the constant changing of ministers in the economic area. In order to do so, we use Barro’s credibility model and Max Weber’s legitimacy concept to re-establish the predicaments of the Administration and their reflections on the guidance of the economic policy.

Nem ortodoxia nem populismo: o Segundo Governo Vargas e a economia brasileira

This paper analyzes the economy and the controversies surrounding the economic policy in the Second Vargas Administration (1951-1954), as well as its historical significance. As a methodological option, it starts with the different approaches the implementation of the economic policy went through along the period, which are analyzed pari passu with the main studies dividing their analysts and interpreters.

Keynes: o liberalismo econômico como mito

Keynes: the economic liberalism as a myth - This paper aims at highlighting Keynes main arguments in his criticism of economic liberalism, conceived of as the theories and the praxis of economic policy adopted by the mainstream thinkers in the field of economics and symbolically based on the laissez-faire approach. Although Keynes ultimate works are in the field of economic theory, a number of them show his political line of thought, more evidently his criticism of classical liberalism. The paper demonstrates that, in a world polarized between nazi-fascism and the Soviet Stalinist experience, Keynes articulates a very peculiar view against both, in favor of a representative democracy and a free market economy. However, possibly based on philosophical pragmatism, economic liberalism is seen as a myth that is not compatible with 20th century capitalism.

Desenvolvimentismo e política econômica: um cotejo entre Vargas e Perón

This paper compares economic policy characteristics of two developmentalist experiences in Latin America: the first Vargas administration (Brazil, 1930-1945) and the Peron administration (Argentina, 1946-1955). Although certain similarities exist between them (which are usually stressed in the literature), this article seeks to reveal some differences that are economic in nature. While Vargas focused on measures that would change the countrys economic structure and with an emphasis on industrialization, Peron prioritized income distribution more than any changes to the economic model that had been implemented before his administration took office.

Os pilares institucionais da política cambial e a industrialização nos anos 1930

The Institutional pillars of the foreign exchange policy and industrialization in Brazil in the 1930s. The 1930s constitute one milestone in the Brazilian economic development, as the accelerated industrialization process has started and became the dominant domestic policy. This paper reviews this period focusing on the institutional changes restructuring exchange transactions, to curb financial flows and balance external payments

Metalistas x papelistas: origens teóricas e antecedentes do debate entre monetaristas e desenvolvimentistas

The paper analyzes the debate between metallism and “paper moneyism” which took place in Brazil in the second half of the 19th century and advocates that the latter was one of the currents that contributed to the genesis of developmentalism. In order to do so, it reviews the monetary controversies in England since the beginning of that century. Based on them, it identifies the theoretical origins of the Brazilian debate, highlighting the issue that refers to the neutrality or nonneutrality of money. Next, it shows how this question was adapted to the peculiarities of the Brazilian economy, emphasizing the “paper moneyists’”option for growth, departing from the orthodoxy of that time. The influence upon the fledgling developmentalism is empirically studied based on the speeches of Getulio Vargas, since he was the central character of the developmentalist State that was central to the Brazilian post-1930 historical experience.