Measuring Brazil under President Michel Temer

In four days, Brazil President Michel Temer will step down after two years and four months as head of state. He took power in May 2016, after the controversial impeachment of his predecessor Dilma Rousseff. Now, he is preparing to hand the baton to president-elect Jair Bolsonaro.

Mr. Temer’s term in office will be remembered for a few things. His sweeping austerity measures, including reforming Brazil’s labor laws and imposing a 20-year federal spending cap, will have long-lasting effects on the country. He failed, however, to...