Page 19 - InvestmentGuideBrasilEng

lation remained in abject poverty as a result of
rampant inflation. Human rights abuses were OVERVIEW
widespread.
The 1980s was a period of economic instabili-
ty across Latin America due to the energy shocks
and ensuing sovereign debt crises that saw many
countries in the region – including Brazil – strug- OF BRAZIL’S
gle to balance public finances. Most of Brazil’s
governments during this period struggled to con-
tain hyperinflation, but at the same time import-
ant structural reforms were carried out by open-
ing Brazil to international trade and beginning to TERRITORY,
liberalize sectors of the economy to encourage
private sector initiatives.
In 1994 a successful formula for ensuring eco-
nomic stability was achieved. Brazil introduced a
new currency – the real – and created a macroeco- STATES AND PEOPLE
nomic framework aimed at inflation-targeting,
fiscal responsibility and insulating the economy
from external shocks. This plan – called the Real
Plan – laid the foundations on which Brazil’s sub-
sequent economic growth has been built.
The first decade of the new century was de-
fined by many great achievements for Brazil, but Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the There are six main biomes in Brazil. Almost the
perhaps the single most transformational mo- world in both population size and total land entire Northern Region is covered by the Amazon
ment came through the efforts to improve the mass. It is the largest country in Rainforest. The central part of the country is trop-
quality of life for the poorest members of Brazilian Latin America and occupies most of the land- ical savannah and scrub called cerrado. The North-
society. During this period, 40 million Brazilians mass of the South American continent. east encompasses a dry outback called caatinga
entered Brazil’s middle class, with access to social and also a large cerrado area. The Southeast coast
housing, electricity, education and food. In 2012 and most of the South are covered by the Atlan-
the first female president of Brazil took office. tic Rainforest. In addition, there are two smaller
biomes: the Pantanal Wetlands near the border
with Bolivia and the Pampas in the far south on
the border with Argentina and Uruguay.
Most of Brazil lies in a tropical climate zone,
except for the South which is situated in a temper-
ate zone. In general terms, temperatures in the
o
o
country tend to vary between highs of 30 C (86 F)
o
o
and lows of 15 C (59 F), depending on the season.
As a southern hemisphere country, Brazil’s sum-
mer runs from November through February, and
winter from June through September. Tempera-
tures in the South and Southeast of the country
can reach freezing during the southern hemi-
sphere winter, particularly at higher elevations.
The North, on the other hand, tends to remain
hot and humid throughout the year. The Midwest
of the country and the Northeast have essentially
two seasons: a dry season (roughly June through
September) and a rainy season (October through
May). The country is relatively free from natural
disasters, although heavy rainstorms have been
known to cause occasional flooding and land-
slides in mountainous areas.
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