Brasil E Os Limites Da Transformação Estrutural

Brazil experienced one of the most intense industrialization processes among peripheral economies during the twentieth century. Between 1930 and 1980, industry significantly increased its share of output, the productive base diversified, and the country built relevant capabilities in several strategic sectors. Nevertheless, Brazil did not achieve sustained technological convergence with advanced economies. This article argues that the Brazilian case reflects an incomplete structural transformation: substantial modernization occurred, but technological dependence and productive heterogeneity persisted. By examining the stages of Brazil’s development—from the agro-export economy to import-substitution industrialization and the challenges of the contemporary period—the article suggests that the central dilemma was not the absence of industrialization, but the difficulty of sustaining cumulative learning and productive diversification.