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How a Nation was Born: Brazilian Economic Growth, 1574–1920

Author

Listed:
  • Lambais, Guilherme
  • Palma, Nuno

Abstract

We construct the first long-run series of GDP per capita for Brazil, covering the period from 1574 to 1920. We build a new, hand-collected dataset including over 30,000 observations for prices and wages covering most major regions of Brazil: Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, Pernambuco, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul. Our estimates imply an average per-capita growth rate of approximately zero during the colonial era (1574-1821), 0.69% per year during the imperial era (1822-1888), and 1.02% per year during the Early Republic. The latter estimates lie below the "pro-growth" view of late nineteenth-century Brazil but above the traditional narrative of complete stagnation.

Suggested Citation

  • Lambais, Guilherme & Palma, Nuno, 2026. "How a Nation was Born: Brazilian Economic Growth, 1574–1920," CEPR Discussion Papers 21341, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:21341
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    File URL: https://cepr.org/publications/DP21341
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N16 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N36 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Latin America; Caribbean
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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