It’s time to bite the bullet

Brazil's finances are being taken in hand. But fiscal reform depends on constitutional changes, and so far president Cardoso hasn't fulfilled any of his promises. The team implementing the Real Plan for recovery believes some measures can be taken without a battle in congress, but these ideas are still on paper. Although inflation is down, external investment is up and privatization has sped up, the markets will give Brazil only so long. Danielle Robinson reports

Brazil’s Real Plan celebrated its second birthday in July, but still without the constitutional fiscal reform needed to achieve sustained strong economic growth in a low inflationary environment. Is it time to panic?

The answer is no ­ at least not for some time. Although the 1995 fiscal balance was a shocker ­ there was a deficit of 5% of GDP, compared with 1994’s 1.3% operational surplus ­ president Fernando Henrique Cardoso’s economic team began preparing years ago for a long battle with congress.

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