Knowledge on Brazil

Inequality figures have been consistently increasing throughout the past decades.

True

False

Levels of inequality in Brazil have decreased substantially between 2002 and 2016.

Background: Even if inequality figures in Brazil have been improving in the last decades, still 25% of the population live under the poverty line.

Brazil is the largest Latin American economy and has a share of the Global Economy which is larger than the share of Canada.

Brazil plays a very important role in the Economy of Latin America, but also globally. Due to economic predictions, Brazil will reach the position of 4th largest economy in the world by 2050.

Background: Ever since the 1990s, Brazil has been progressively taking relevant steps towards stabilizing and opening its economy, developing the private sector and enhancing its competitiveness.

Brazil has 26 States and one federal district.

True

False

The subnational federated units of Brazil possess autonomy only to a certain degree since the political and legislative power is centralized in the federal government. The federated units are divided into 5 big regions: North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and South.

Background: The current structure of Brazilian federated units (26 states and one federal district) was established by the 1988 Constituent Assembly that created the current Federal Constitution of Brazil.

Brazil is more individualistic than most European countries.

True

False

Brazilian culture is based on collectivism, where people are usually integrated into strong, cohesive groups, and this fact also applies to business connections and networking.

Background: Given that Brazil is a collectivistic culture, also in work environments, it is important to maintain friendly and trustworthy relationships, which can positively influence in business making.

Brazilian’s most innovative sectors include agribusiness, Biotechnology and ICT

True

False

These three sectors figure among the most innovative Brazilian companies, as listed by Forbes at the end of 2018.

Background: For the past 20 years, the Brazilian government has sought to stimulate innovation through funds which target specific socio-economic sectors. The government has established target funds, which have become one of its main sources of research funding and boosting innovation in these sectors.

Brazil has established new strategic plans focused on enhancing innovation and fostering research and development.

True

False

There is an increasing demand for the Brazilian government to provide more investment in R&D and innovation. Brazil has established two strategic plans – Plano Brasil Maior (PBM) and the National Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy (ENCTI) - as a response for the continuous request from the private sector, and the determination of the government to incentive economic growth.

Background: The Plano Brasil Maior (PBM) is the new industrial policy which aims to increase public investments and encourage the increase of private investments in R&D. The ENCTI seeks to decrease the existing technological gap in Brazil by means of investments in science and innovation.

During negotiations, Brazilians might be confrontational towards foreign people.

True

False

Brazilians are very friendly with foreigners and usually interested in other cultures and languages.

Background: Due to the history of intensive immigration originated from different regions of the world, Brazilians feel very comfortable around foreign people and will treat them in a friendly way, even in a work environment.