Corrupção no Brasil

The Definitive Factual Work on a Critical Issue, October 20, 2011
By Ted Goertzel
Eduardo Graeff says that corruption is like a termite that gnaws at both legs of Brazilian democracy: the rule of law and clean, legitimate elections. It is estimated that roughly 2% of Brazil's GDP is lost to corruption, but this doesn't include the fact that the GDP might be much larger if corruption didn't inhibit entrepreneurialism and competitive growth. Graeff documents a sorry history from Sarney and Collor through the Franco, Cardoso and Lula governments. As a former top official of the Cardoso government, one might be skeptical of his judgment that the Cardoso was significantly better than the others. But he documents his arguments, and the Cardoso administration was exceptional in many ways. He is cautious in his criticism of the Lula government, but no exaggeration is needed. He also specifies the institutional developments that have improved Brazil's ability to fight corruption, and gives the Lula government credit where credit is due in this regard. This is the definitive factual work, in English or in Portuguese, on this critical topic. Readers seeking a more theoretical analysis, and who can read Portuguese, should consult Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Marcílio Marques Moreira, editors, Cultura das Transgressões no Brasil. São Paulo: Saraiva, 2008. For more on the problems in the Workers' Party and the Lula government, I recommend
The Transformation of the Workers' Party in Brazil, 1989-2009 as well as my own book, Brazil's Lula: The Most Popular Politician on Earth
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