Brazil: The Green Giant

Abstract

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the leading economy in South America. Its economy represents half of Latin America’s commercial power. From 2007 to 2012, the GDP grew by a staggering 77.5 %. Oil, gas, agriculture, industry and a huge service sector are the main pillars of the economy. As a very young country, almost 33 % of the 206 million Brazilians are 19 years old or younger and 85 % of them live in urban centers along the East coast. After decades of military rule and crippling inflation, Brazil has experienced a period of political and economic stabilization since the 1990s. A rapidly growing middle class, rising prices for its major commodities as well as various government programs have lifted millions of people out of poverty and transformed the country into a relevant destination for international investment and a hotspot for global events like the football World Cup and the upcoming Olympics. Brazilians are optimistic, young, energetic, flexible and pragmatic. The countries’ enormous immigration-based ethnical diversity has become its most distinct characteristic while the growth of wealth and prosperity has also led to significant changes in consumer behavior. Domestic competitors need to be taken seriously and precise navigation through the different income classes like the “Class C” and their respective purchasing habits is mandatory for success in the country that is known for being “blessed by god and beautiful by nature”.