Economic performance has been much better than expected, in part due to the authorities' forceful policy response. Nevertheless, Brazil's long-standing challenges of low growth, high debt, and elevated levels of poverty and inequality have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Tragically, more than...

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened Brazil's longstanding vulnerabilities of low potential growth, high income inequality, and weak fiscal position. While the authorities mounted a rapid and effective response to support the economy and protect the poor and vulnerable, the virus outbreak is yet...

The economy is still in its deepest recession in decades, partly the result of the failure of past policies. The recession has been aggravated by a political crisis, which had, until recently, paralyzed policymaking and further damaged confidence. President Rousseff was impeached for...

This paper assesses the importance of financial market developments for the business cycle in Brazil. The results underscore the importance of macro-financial linkages and highlight risks to the recovery going forward. Although some of the rise in credit growth in Brazil can be attributed to...

This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights that Brazil's deep recession appears close to an end. The recession, triggered by large macroeconomic imbalances and a loss of confidence, was exacerbated by declining terms of trade, tight financing conditions, and a political crisis. Growth is...

This Selected Issues paper examines the proximate causes of dramatic fall in investment in Brazil and the prospects for investment going forward. A variety of factors contributed to the investment decline, including deterioration in Brazil's medium-term growth prospects, rising real interest...

This Selected Issues paper examines the profitability of the foreign exchange (FX) swaps issued the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) between May 2013 and February 2019 to shed light on the rationale for FX intervention. Using interest rate and exchange rate forecasts, the paper shows that that FX...

This 2019 Article IV Consultation with Brazil discusses that growth is projected at 0.8 percent in 2019 and to accelerate in 2020 conditional on the approval of a robust pension reform and favorable financial conditions. The current budget is guided by the federal expenditure ceiling, entailing...

This 2018 Article IV Consultation highlights that a mild recovery supported by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies is currently under way in Brazil. But the economy is underperforming relative to its potential, public debt is high and increasing, and, more importantly, medium-term growth...