Podcast

Explaining Brazil #99: Is recession inescapable?

The coronavirus outbreak is cooling off the global economy—but the Brazilian government resists the use of stimulus packages


The coronavirus outbreak has slowed down the Chinese economy and is sending shockwaves through markets around the world, threatening a global recession. In Brazil, analysts are growing more pessimistic—slashing GDP growth forecasts for 2020 from 2.3 percent to just 1.99 percent over the past month.

And while there is no evidence that economic conditions have already hit rock bottom, the Brazilian government seems to resist the use of stimulus packages—unlike other countries.

Which begs the question: is Brazil equipped to face the upcoming turmoil?

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On this episode:

  • Monica de Bolle is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington D.C. Named as “Honored Economist” in 2014 by the Order of Brazilian Economists for her contributions to the Brazilian policy debate, Ms. de Bolle focuses on macroeconomics, foreign exchange policy, monetary and fiscal policy, trade and inequality, financial regulation, and capital markets.

Background reading:

Explaining Brazil is made by:

  • Gustavo Ribeiro, editor in chief of The Brazilian Report. He has extensive experience covering Brazilian politics. His work has been featured across Brazilian and French media outlets, including Veja, Época, Folha de S.Paulo, Médiapart, and Radio France Internationale.
  • Euan Marshall, editing. Euan is a journalist and translator who has lived in São Paulo, Brazil since 2011. Specializing in Brazilian soccer, politics and the connection between the two, his work has been published in The Telegraph, Al Jazeera, The Independent, among others.

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