pt. 1. Macroeconomic and distributional dimensions of energy shocks -- pt. 2. Social, local and environmental impacts of changes in the energy market -- pt. 3. The impacts of bio and alternative fuels -- pt. 4. Conclusions.

It has often been suggested that the trade-off between equity and efficiency can be overcome by achieving both goals sequentially. This article shows how the government of President Lula has tried to follow the latter, by first emphasizing economic orthodoxy, to be followed by measures to...