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Despite its vast natural wealth, large territory and significant population, Brazil has not yet achieved the status of a superpower — We will answer the question: Why is Brazil not a superpower?
In 1820, at the height of Industrial Revolution that was transforming Europe and the United States, Brazil was already emerging with a clear economic backwardness. That year, the Brazilian per capita income was 674 dollars, while the American one reached U.S. dollar 1.257 — practically double. But, after all, why isn't Brazil a superpower?
Many decades have passed, and a gigantic gap has been created between the two countries. In 2023, the Gross Domestic Product (TAX ID No) per capita in the United States was US$65.020,35, while in Brazil it reached US$9.032,11
Despite periods of accelerated growth, such as in the 1960s and 1970s, Brazil has never managed to consolidate a trajectory of robust and sustainable development in the long term. term.
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Several factors explain this overwhelming difference. Among the most debated is the short duration of our democracy compared to the American one.
Why Brazil is not a superpower
With only 39 years of democratic stability, Brazil faces structural challenges that reflect centuries of social inequality, low productivity and inconsistent public policies. We will explain below why Brazil is not a superpower.
Education
The quality of education in Brazil is one of the main obstacles to development. In global rankings, the country ranks last in basic learning indicators, such as reading, mathematics and science.
The lack of adequate investment, combined with ineffective public management, results in a poorly qualified workforce. While developed economies rely on knowledge and innovation as drivers of growth, Brazil still struggles to provide quality basic education.
Research indicates that each additional year of schooling can increase productivity by up to 10%. However, with an average of less than 8 years of schooling for a large part of the population, Brazil is still far from reaching the potential needed to compete on the global stage.
Inequality
Social and economic inequality in Brazil is one of the highest in the world. According to the most recent World Bank report, the country has an alarming Gini index, reflecting the concentration of income in a few hands. This disparity is perpetuated by policies that favor elites and widen the gap between rich and poor.
The recent tax reform is emblematic of this logic. Although it has the potential to simplify the current system, it is compromised by exceptions that benefit specific segments, such as independent professionals and services aimed at the upper classes.
The perpetuation of privileges not only prevents fairer taxation, but also burdens the poorest, further reducing their ability to consume and invest.
Poor infrastructure
The precariousness of Brazil's infrastructure is another significant obstacle. Poorly maintained roads, obsolete ports and an inefficient transportation system increase production costs and reduce the country's international competitiveness.
Furthermore, energy infrastructure, although it has advanced in recent decades, is still not sufficient to meet the growing demands of an expanding economy.
Basic sanitation is another glaring example. More than 30 million Brazilians do not have access to treated water, and half of the population lives without sewage collection. This reality not only affects public health, but also limits human and economic development.
Corruption and governance
Corruption is a chronic problem in Brazil. Scandals involving billions in public funds being misappropriated are recurrent, undermining public confidence in institutions and driving away investors. In addition, poor governance compromises the efficiency of the State and the implementation of public policies.
Excessive bureaucracy is also an obstacle to innovation and entrepreneurship. Studies show that Brazilian companies spend, on average, 1.500 hours per year just dealing with tax obligations — a stark contrast to more developed economies, where this number is less than 200 hours.
Environmental sustainability
Brazil has one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, with the Amazon as the centerpiece of this unique ecosystem.
However, rampant deforestation and predatory exploitation of natural resources put not only the environment at risk, but also the country's reputation on the international stage.
Environmental sustainability is increasingly a requirement for global trade.
Consumer markets demand that agricultural and industrial products meet strict environmental criteria, and Brazil often faces barriers for not meeting these standards.
The cost of privileges
As Marcos Lisboa pointed out, Brazil is a country of privileges. The culture of “half-price tickets” — an expression that symbolizes the search for individual advantages to the detriment of the collective — is deeply rooted in society. This is reflected in the formulation of public policies, the allocation of resources and the perpetuation of inequalities.
Tax reform, despite its transformative potential, illustrates this dynamic well. The multiplicity of tax rates and the exceptions created to satisfy powerful lobbies compromise its effectiveness.
As Roberto Campos rightly said, Brazil continues to “miss opportunities not to miss opportunities”.
Time as a decisive factor
Building a world power requires time and continuity. The United States, for example, has accumulated 247 years of stable democracy, while Brazil has only 38 years since the end of its military dictatorship.
This historical difference is reflected in institutional solidity, political culture and the capacity to implement structural reforms.
The lack of a long-term vision in Brazil is evident. Changes in government often result in discontinuity in public policies, damaging infrastructure, education and innovation projects.
A future for Brazil with difficult decisions
The challenges that prevent Brazil from becoming a global power are numerous, but not insurmountable. Investing in quality education, reducing social inequalities, modernizing infrastructure, combating corruption and adopting sustainable practices are essential steps to unlock the country's potential.
However, these changes require political courage, commitment from elites and active participation from civil society. Brazil needs to overcome the logic of privilege and adopt a collective vision of development.
Until this happens, we will continue to confirm Roberto Campos' bitter statement: Brazil, in fact, does not miss opportunities to miss opportunities.
In 2018, I was part of three WhatsApp groups. I was the only one in these groups who produced content in favor of the group that elected Bolsonaro, Zucco, Sanderson, and Luiz Carlos as senator. At a lunch at Clube Geraldo Santana, I gave General Mourão a card and said that I am an inventor and needed support for my projects. I sent emails to everyone, but after they took office, I didn't hear from them and I didn't get a single response. Lieutenant Colonel Zucco even thanked me, but he never wanted to see me. I'm not just an inventor, but I could help modernize the Brazilian state. I even sent emails and called the Secretary of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic, but I never got a response. Bolsonaro took office and in my texts I always said that it was necessary to protect the environment, look at the moment we are living in. I said that we had to invest in education and minimum wage given the low purchasing power, minimum wage will increase the GDP and so is technology. Rich countries invested in technology and today they are what they are. In 3, I changed my mind and told candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to invest in the same proposals I offered to Bolsonaro. I said that if he invested in the minimum wage, he would win the elections. Bolsonaro saw in the debate that Lula offered to improve the minimum wage, so Bolsonaro promised a minimum wage of R$2018. But it was too late, especially since Bolsonaro and Paulo Guedes said that the minimum wage was overvalued, which was his big mistake. Low purchasing power generates poverty. In addition, reforms are needed. Lula was very well elected and I can't even get a response from his government other than to say that he received it. One of my projects is worth $1.400,00, billions of dollars. I'm the only one in the world who knows how to create a pyramid scheme to elect a group of candidates. It reaches millions of voters in a day. Imagine that in taxes alone there are $20.000.000.000, billions of dollars. They're all the same. Good morning.
It's unfortunate that rulers of this level are in this situation!
Congratulations, there are few who want and fight for Brazil to become a great power, it is enough for politicians to steal and enslave the Brazilian people…👏👏👏👏
Candidate, if elected, put your ideas into practice and be an example for others.
If you want the minimum wage to be valued and quality PUBLIC infrastructure, you are left-wing. Bolsonaro is right-wing (luckily, only his speech and pigeon-like chest are far-right). Lula is center-left, but he would sell (and did sell) anything to end extreme poverty (unfortunately, that cannot be the focus, the poor evolve quickly, only in one generation, the poor take three and are more susceptible to drugs and cults). I truly recommend increasing your political participation because the way things are, with this foolish polarization that only strengthens the “Centrão” (parasitic center-right, “coronet” wannabes who would destroy even their own mother for dozens of million).
Lula from the center left? 😂😂
Congratulations on your understanding and good vision. Politicians receive many people presenting good ideas. During the campaign, they listen but are unable to evaluate. When elected, they have their focus groups (people they have known for a while and who have earned their trust). These groups indicate other people as needed. I call them focus groups because some are interviewed about finance, another about agriculture, another about health, and so on.
A senator has his sphere of trust and cannot evaluate a person outside of that. A president is even more intense.
As you demonstrate political ability, take the path of registering with a political party and being active over time, you will become a regional leader and along the way there will come a time when you will be heard.
As an inventor, you don't need the government. You invent, register it, if possible, also register it in the US and offer your patent to interested companies. If you feel like it, you can also create a company idea and look for angel investors.
Good luck
Very simple, stop the mutt of being America's backyard, nationalize the companies sold in strategic sectors, end the spending cap, 54% tax on large fortunes, inheritances, make the agribusiness pay its taxes. Ready Brazil beats the USA in 3 years.
Do you think it is fair to charge more from the Agro? Fuel, seeds, high-tech machines, climate factor, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and others and more taxes when selling + storage in silos + taxes when exporting…
And you think it's fair to want to charge more taxes... lol
That's why Brazil isn't moving forward.
Politicians in Brazil only create taxes to maintain their privileges and extremely high salaries…
Now everything has gone crazy, the spending cap is gone… Taxing large fortunes generates inflation, inheritance is a good acquired through “work”, and agriculture is what feeds you. This proposal of yours seems more like a punishment for those who produce and make things happen. That’s communist thinking.