OECD Economic Surveys: Brazil 2009

OECD's periodic survey of Brazil's economy. This 2009 edition features chapters on looking beyond the economic crisis, reaping the benefits of macroeconomic consolidation, reforming indirect taxes and labour levies, and making government operations more effective. Table of Content : Basic Statistics of Brazil (2008 unless otherwise noted) Executive Summary Assessment and Recommendations Chapter 1. Looking beyond the Global Financial and Economic Crisis towards Sustained Growth -The effects of the global financial and economic crisis -Policy responses and the short-term outlook -Medium-term growth perspects -Annex 1.A1. Re-estimating Brazil's potential GDP -Annex 1.A2. The long-term determinants of investment -Annex 1.A3. Brazil's current account dynamics -Annex 1.A4. Progress in structural reform Chapter 2. Reaping the Benefits of Macroeconomic Consolidation -Fiscal policy -Monetary policy -Policy recommendations -Bibliography -Annex 2.A1. Monetary policy and the bank lending channel in Brazil: A VECM approach Chapter 3. Reforming indirect taxes and labour levies -Trends in tax policy and revenue -Main policy considerations -The government's reform proposal -Policy recommendations -Annex 3.A1. Testing for horizontal tax competition in the VAT among the states Chapter 4. Making Government Operations More Cost Effective -Efficiency in selected policy areas -Budget institutions -Internal and external control mechanisms -A new regulatory framework for the oil and gas sector -Policy recommendations -Annex 4.A1. Estimating the determinants of efficiency in the provision of education and health care services among the Brazilian municipalities: A quantile regression approach