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 fiscal challenges of Brazil's states and municipalities can have a significant impact on the economy and the provision of core public services. The subnational governments (SNGs) account for a large share of public expenditures, including public investment. As such, their fiscal problems can...

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 report assesses fiscal transparency practices in Brazil in relation to the requirements of the IMF Fiscal Transparency Code. Brazil's practices meet many of the principles of the code at good or advanced levels. Fiscal statistics encompass the general government sector and recognize most of...