Brazilian Economy Research Articles

DESAFIOS JURÍDICOS NA REGULAMENTAÇÃO DAS CRIPTOMOEDAS SOB A CONSTITUIÇÃO BRASILEIRA

The research addresses the "Legal Challenges in the Regulation of Cryptocurrencies under the Brazilian Constitution", with the objective of analyzing the legal difficulties related to the regulation of cryptocurrencies in the country. In addition, it seeks to investigate how these digital currencies align with constitutional principles, examine their impact on the Brazilian economy and the security of the business environment, and propose recommendations for adequate regulation. The research problem can be summarized in the following question: In what way does the regulation of cryptocurrencies, in light of the Brazilian Constitution, influence the individual guarantees of citizens and the legal security of the system? The regulation of cryptocurrencies in Brazil presents significant challenges in the legal and constitutional context. Although these virtual currencies play a growing role in the global economy, their decentralized nature, lack of state control, and volatility generate uncertainties that directly affect the Brazilian legal system. The research uses a bibliographical approach, based on academic studies, doctrines, and legislation, aiming to offer a critical view on the subject and contribute to the legal debate around cryptocurrencies in the national scenario.

Reuse of Textile Waste: Products Presentation and User Acceptance Analysis

Objective: This research evaluateded the potential use of clothing produced from textile waste generated. In addition to showcasing products made from reused materials, the study investigated the public's knowledge of these practices and assessed consumer acceptance. Theoretical Framework: In this topic, the main concepts and theories that underpin the research are presented. The discussion on sustainability and the brazilian panorama of textile waste stand out, providing a solid basis for understanding the context of the investigation. Method: The research was descriptive and predominantly quantitative. Data were collected using a questionnaire answered by 215 people. Results and Discussion: It was noted that clothing made from textile waste is well accepted by society. However, the difficulty in finding these items and the price of products represent a challenge for many people. Although many participants said they were aware of the possibility of making garments from this waste, many did not know how to identify the origin of the waste. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of textile waste utilization. These implications may cover areas such as waste management and the development of the brazilian economy. Originality/Value: The adoption of alternatives for using textile waste is extremely important. Although there are already people working in this segment, its market share is still small. These issues affirm the relevance of this research for strengthening this segment.

Influence of seasonal variation on the chromatographic profile and physicochemical properties of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is important in the Brazilian economy and its essential oil is used in cooking, industry and perfumery, and has antimicrobial properties. The chemical composition of essential oils can be altered by the action of various factors, whether internal or external to the plant, such as genetics, temperature, water availability and seasonality. The aim of this research was to assess whether seasonality interferes with the chromatographic profile and physicochemical characteristics of basil essential oil. The study was carried out by investigating the technical reports of the Haje Insumos company on the chemical composition using gas chromatography, physical-chemical analysis (density, refractive index and humidity) and organoleptic analysis (appearance, color and odor). Due to the presence of the linalool component in greater quantity, the oil analyzed is characterized as being of the linalool chemotype. The product showed no alterations to its organoleptic characteristics and all the results were in accordance with its specification. In addition, one of the batches had a higher moisture content, which may be related to the environmental conditions at the time of year, which requires attention as water can trigger a hydrolysis reaction in fat-soluble molecules. It is understood that seasonality may be related to changes in the essential oil, and it was possible to contribute to the recognition of this plant's product.

Amazon deforestation and CO2 emissions: A macroeconomic approach using the GVAR

AbstractWe analyzed the relationship between economic variables, Amazon deforestation, and CO2 emissions in Brazil. We used a macroeconomic approach of a system of open economies (global vector autoregressive [GVAR]). We constructed the international economy using 34 countries, representing 77% of the world GDP and 80% of world CO2 emissions. GVAR allows us to simulate the world economy, capture spillover effects, incorporate the externality of gas emissions, treating Brazil as a small open economy, and including trade integration in the analysis. We found that domestic and external shocks affect Amazon deforestation and CO2 emissions; the principal external shock is the Chinese one, followed by the European and the US shocks. China, directly and indirectly, affects CO2 emissions and deforestation in Brazil through two channels (exchange rates and policy rates). The estimates showed that Brazilian currency and commodity prices are relevant for deforestation, while industrial production is for gas emissions. Other results are that (i) the Brazilian economy affects CO2 emissions in Latin America (and the principal influence of China is on Asia), and (ii) the Chinese shock loses importance when using bilateral trade in 1999–2001, when China was not a fundamental trade partner of Brazil. Alternative model configurations demonstrate that soybean prices and Argentina influence Brazilian carbon emissions and Amazon deforestation. Specifically, soybean prices emerge as a major driver of carbon emissions. These results suggest that geography and trade integration matter to understanding Amazon deforestation and CO2 emissions. Our estimates highlight the importance of government policies and international cooperation in curbing Amazon deforestation.

Resistance of Bt and Non-Bt Soybean Cultivars Adapted to Novel Growing Regions of Brazil to Chrysodeixis includens and Spodoptera frugiperda.

Soybean is a highly valuable commodity crop for Brazil's economy. However, it faces significant threats from the attack of a complex of lepidopteran pests, particularly Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). These pests have been managed primarily using transgenic Bt soybeans, but limited knowledge exists about the resistance levels of Bt and non-Bt cultivars adapted to novel soybean-growing areas in Brazil, such as the Minas Gerais state. This study evaluated the resistance levels of Bt and non-Bt soybean cultivars to C. includens and S. frugiperda, and whether the Bt cultivars can differentially affect these pests across larval stages. No-choice bioassays were conducted using Bt (NS6010 IPRO and P97R50 IPRO) and non-Bt soybeans (UFLA 6301 RR, P96R90 RR, and ANsc 80111 RR) at V4-stage in the laboratory with neonate (24 h) and third-instar larvae. Larvae were fed leaf discs in Petri dishes, recording the mortality, leaf consumption, and weight gain after 7 days. There was high mortality of C. includens neonates on the Bt cultivars, but this trend was not observed for older larvae. For S. frugiperda neonates, there was high mortality on the Bt cultivar NS 6010 IPRO and non-Bt cultivar UFLA 6301 RR, but only the former was effective for older larvae. Although the Bt cultivars did not kill the third instars, antinutritional effects were found, such that leaf tissue consumed was not converted to larval weight gain. These findings are important for defining regional strategies of integrated and resistance management of C. includens and S. frugiperda in expanding regions of soybean cultivation in Brazil.

CONSIDERATIONS ON THE MAIN FOOT DISEASES IN LIVESTOCK FARMING: a integrative review of the literature

Introduction: Cattle farming, whether dairy or beef, is one of the mainstays of the Brazilian economy today. Foot diseases directly affect the production chain in this agricultural area, causing production to fall and reducing the economic potential of the activity. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological and pathophysiological aspects of the main foot diseases that affect livestock, building on knowledge based on case reports and previous theoretical approaches. Materials and Methods: This is a integrative review of the literature on the main foot diseases affecting livestock. The descriptors "Foot Diseases", "Farming" and "Epidemiology" were cross-referenced in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed MEDLINE), Google Scholar and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases. After this, Sole Ulcer, White Line Disease, Digital Dermatitis and Phlegmon were chosen for discussion. Results and Discussion: The articles included in this integrative review showed epidemiological, clinical, pathophysiological and propaedeutic aspects of the main foot diseases that affect livestock. Conclusion: Foot diseases represent a major problem for dairy cattle farming, being responsible for reduced production and the early disposal of animals. Most of them have lameness as a common symptom, which is the cause of changes in the gait of cattle and, consequently, in the physiological habits of the animals.

The Brazilian Economy in the Recent Decades: an Analysis Using Synthetic Control

The Brazilian Economy in the Recent Decades: an Analysis Using Synthetic Control

Mapping Gaps in Sugarcane Fields in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery Using YOLOv5 and ImageJ

Sugarcane plays a pivotal role in the Brazilian economy as a primary crop. This semi-perennial crop allows for multiple harvests throughout its life cycle. Given its longevity, farmers need to be mindful of avoiding gaps in sugarcane fields, as these interruptions in planting lines negatively impact overall crop productivity over the years. Recognizing and mapping planting failures becomes essential for replanting operations and productivity estimation. Due to the scale of sugarcane cultivation, manual identification and mapping prove impractical. Consequently, solutions utilizing drone imagery and computer vision have been developed to cover extensive areas, showing satisfactory effectiveness in identifying gaps. However, recognizing small gaps poses significant challenges, often rendering them unidentifiable. This study addresses this issue by identifying and mapping gaps of any size while allowing users to determine the gap size. Preliminary tests using YOLOv5 and ImageJ 1.53k demonstrated a high success rate, with a 96.1% accuracy in identifying gaps of 50 cm or larger. These results are favorable, especially when compared to previously published works.

Testing the algebraic modeling of competitive impacts from wage premium shocks: a case study from a booming airline market

Labor relations issues such as collective bargaining and strike threat power have recently gained increased attention in the Brazilian air transportation market due to a short-term shortage of qualified workforce, leading stronger pilot unions to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Exacerbated by the notable expansion of the Brazilian economy between 2020 and 2023, where air travel demand surged by 60%, this pressure has driven labor costs to grow more rapidly than other cost categories. This paper examines exogenous flight crew cost shocks, treating these as increases in wage premiums resulting from stronger unionization and higher labor market rents. Using a differentiated duopoly model, we analyze the impact of these wage increases on competition between a major network carrier and a small low-fare carrier, introducing the hypothesis of non-exhausted economies of density. Our findings indicate that smaller airlines are more adversely affected by labor cost shocks, though differentiated wage increase schemes can mitigate these impacts, reducing market concentration and preserving consumer welfare. This study contributes to the literature by incorporating wage premium shocks into existing models and suggesting that labor regulations in Brazil should be liberalized to address the rapid growth in air transportation demand and the resultant workforce shortage.

Allelic variability in the Rpp1 locus conferring resistance to Asian soybean rust revealed by genome-wide association

Soybean is a crucial crop for the Brazilian economy, but it faces challenges from the biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, which causes Asian Soybean Rust (ASR). In this study, we aimed to identify SNPs associated with resistance within the Rpp1 locus, which is effective against Brazilian ASR populations. We employed GWAS and re-sequencing analyzes to pinpoint SNP markers capable of differentiating between soybean accessions harboring the Rpp1, Rpp1-b and other alternative alleles in the Rpp1 locus and from susceptible soybean cultivars. Seven SNP markers were found to be associated with ASR resistance through GWAS, with three of them defining haplotypes that efficiently distinguished the accessions based on their ASR resistance and source of the Rpp gene. These haplotypes were subsequently validated using a bi-parental population and a diverse set of Rpp sources, demonstrating that the GWAS markers co-segregate with ASR resistance. We then examined the presence of these haplotypes in a diverse set of soybean genomes worldwide, finding a few new potential sources of Rpp1/Rpp1-b. Further genomic sequence analysis revealed nucleotide differences within the genes present in the Rpp1 locus, including the ULP1-NBS-LRR genes, which are potential R gene candidates. These results provide valuable insights into ASR resistance in soybean, thus helping the development of resistant soybean varieties through genetic breeding programs.

GDP growth in Brazil after the liberalising reforms

ABSTRACT The Brazilian economy implemented the trade and financial liberalisation reforms in the first half of the 1990s as a new development strategy. Since then, Brazilian GDP has been unstable and much lower compared to the previous period. Despite this, there was a short period of relatively higher economic growth rate from 2004 to 2008, but the Brazilian economic growth decelerated after 2011; the country entered a recession between 2014 and 2016, and then in a stagnation period from 2017 onwards. The aim of this article is to analyse the Brazilian economic performance after the liberalising reforms and evaluate the reasons the Brazilian economy decelerated after 2010. To do so, we consider the importance of manufacturing production to a country’s economic performance and analyse this relationship for the specific case of Brazil, checking the contribution of the manufacturing production growth to the country’s GDP growth in circumstances of increases and decreases in GDP growth. To complement this analysis, we also evaluate the existence of increasing returns to scale. The results show that manufacturing production growth is still important for the Brazilian economic performance, especially to explain the moments when the country’s GDP decreases.

Enhancing sustainability: Leveraging ESG indicators to evaluate corporate social responsibility policies in Brazil's agribusiness sector

Objective: To analyze the social responsibility actions of large agribusiness companies in Brazil to understand how they deal with sustainability issues. Method: This research is classified as documentary and exploratory with a qualitative approach, using the content analysis technique for data treatment. Main results: The results analyze and compare policies focused on environmental management, animal welfare, social management and corporate governance of JBS, Raízen Energia, Cosan, Ambev, and Marfrig Global Foods. Relevance/originality: The study has an unprecedented character and analyzes sustainability policies in one of the most relevant segments of the Brazilian economy. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The study contributes to discussions on the sustainable policies developed by large agribusiness companies in Brazil, interpreting how they are implemented and how companies benefit from them.

Mitigating policies for pollutant emissions in a DSGE for the Brazilian economy

This paper examines the dynamic behavior of the Brazilian economy under policy regimes aimed at controlling pollutant emissions and limiting environmental damage. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are assumed to be of two types: carbon from fossil resources burning for energy generation (i.e., thermoelectric) or carbon and non-carbon outputs from production processes (i.e., methane from cattle). Firms optimally decide on the demand for fossil and green energy, as the level of effort dedicated to abating emissions coming from production processes. Two alternative policies for emissions, which include emissions taxation (fixed cost) and emission permits trade (quantity caps), are introduced into an open-economy DSGE model for the Brazilian economy. Departing from the estimated parameters of the original version of the model, ratios in the new block of equations for the energy and emissions are calibrated using sectoral data, and some elasticities are set to reproduce the sensibility to some shocks implicit in the NGFS11Network for Greening the Financial System. scenarios (Net Zero 2050). Simulations indicate neither of the emissions policies can induce transition in the energy matrix without a green investment policy. The approach adopted here is a first step in building a macroeconomic model capable of challenging scenarios from more specialized models dedicated to energy and emissions by better assessing possible effects and feedback related to the iterations with macroeconomic dynamics. Despite the difficulties concerning the limited availability of data in higher frequency, results indicate those modeling approaches are sufficiently flexible to incorporate the main aspects of energy and emission, serving as valuable tools for policy analysis.

The role of foreign direct investment in solving electricity poverty in Brazil

This paper conducts an empirical analysis of the relationship between Foreign Direct Investments and electricity poverty in Brazil in the period 1992–2021. With the opening up of the Brazilian economy in the 1990s policy makers expected that foreign investment would contribute to the development of the Brazilian economy. The impact of Foreign Direct Investment in the electricity sector is, nonetheless, a topic with scarce literature. Therefore, the current work to fill this gap is justified. We adopt an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to investigate the short and long-run relationship between these variables. Our main result is that Foreign Direct Investment has a negative impact on electricity consumption in Brazil. Additionally, Foreign Direct Investment has a negative impact in terms of electricity access, at the time of the occurrence of the investment, which is compensated the year after. Private investments, have on the other hand, impacted electricity consumption positively. An implication is the need for compensatory public policies that can increase access to electricity for the poorest populations.

The impact of fiscal opacity on business confidence: empirical investigation from an emerging economy

PurposeThe relevance of transparency related to public finances is considered fundamental for good economic policy management. An environment of greater fiscal transparency allows the private sector greater predictability, improving the entrepreneur’s decision-making ability. This study empirically analyzes fiscal opacity’s effect on business confidence in an emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachWe use monthly data from the Brazilian economy from January 2010 to March 2023. Based on Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) regressions, we analyze whether fiscal opacity, measured by the signal-to-noise ratio, affects business confidence. Moreover, to evaluate the duration of a shock transmitted by the fiscal opacity on business confidence, we consider an impulse-response function generated by a Vector Auto-Regressive (VAR).FindingsWe found that fiscal opacity resulting from the lack of information to anticipate the budgetary result of the public sector deteriorates business confidence.Practical implicationsWe present robust empirical evidence that allows us to assume that using a strategy to reduce fiscal opacity through mechanisms that provide reliable economic data and fiscal forecasts is essential for fiscal policy to affect business confidence positively. Reducing fiscal opacity provides greater clarity regarding the budget outcome, reduces economic uncertainty and improves the fiscal policy expectation channel.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to analyze how the lack of information for market agents to anticipate the government’s budget execution accurately (fiscal opacity) affects business confidence.

Toxicological, morphological and cytochemical effects caused by the agrochemical Fastac Duo in africanized Apis mellifera tolerant to neonicotinoid thiamethoxam

Agriculture is one of the main bases of the Brazilian economy, its production of cereals, legumes and oilseeds is breaking records. This great productivity needs handling and care to maintain itself. Due to the occurrence of pests there is a need to use agrochemicals, which in addition to their direct effect on killing insect pests, also affects the viability of beneficial insects to Apis mellifera bees. These insects play an essential role in the pollination of many species. These pollinators have declined for at least 14 years due to several factors, including the large-scale use of agrochemicals. Thus, our research group is maintaining colonies of A. mellifera bees tolerant to the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, given the importance of this agrochemical in pest control. Due to the high number of available agrochemicals, in the present study the toxicity, changes in chromatin and morphology of the midgut of workers A. mellifera F4 tolerant to thiamehtoxam, submitted to oral exposure with the agrochemical Fastac Duo (combination of acetamiprid and alpha -cipermethrin). Adult forage workers of A. mellifera F4 tolerant were collected and submitted to in vitro bioassays, by oral exposure for 24 and 72 hours. After this period, the workers were analyzed to check for mortality, dose/response ratio, using the cytochemical technique Critical Electrolyte Concentration (CEC). The most digestion occurs in bees to observe the morphology of this region of the digestive tract. The results showed that there was a high mortality of workers in the treatments performed indicating that there is no cross tolerance, that is, F4 is not tolerant to Fastac Duo, but there is a positive dose/response correlation, where the higher the dose used, the greater the mortality. The changes in the chromatin structure suggest that there is condensation of the chromatin and a decrease in gene expression in two concentrations analyzed at 24 and 72 hours. As for the morphology of the midgut, changes were detected at the cellular level, but the peritrophic membrane was preserved. Thus, the use of Fastac Duo should be avoided, or at least, used in minimum doses necessary to avoid the mortality of A. mellifera bees.

Pass-through of oil prices to Brazilian inflation: An analysis between 2014 and 2023

ABSTRACT The price of fuels, and consequently, the price of oil, is one of the elements of historical relevance for the general price level that the Brazilian population faces, given the country’s dependency on the road transportation mode for product distribution and the potential ripple effects that the oil price naturally exerts on other sectors of the economy. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to quantify the influence of oil prices on the overall price index of the Brazilian economy for the period between January 2014 and May 2023. To achieve this objective, a model based on a hybrid New Keynesian Phillips curve was constructed, and the estimation was performed using Structural Vector Error Correction (SVEC) models. As a result, we find that, although oil prices are not the most significant drivers of inflation, their influence is present, positive, and persists for a considerable number of periods.

What's in drugs freely used by Brazilian truck drivers - "Rebites"? Determination of target and nontarget compounds by high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Highways, the lifeline of the Brazilian economy, transport approximately 75% of the country's economic activity, highlighting its importance. However, professional drivers, accustomed to long daily journeys, make use of tablets widely available in Gas Station, which are known as "Rebites," which could contain a mixture of legal and illegal compounds. Thus, this study aims at the chemical characterization of these through different analytical methods. Initially, we performed a comprehensive screening of compounds present in seven samples collected across the country using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The findings revealed caffeine as the main compound, alongside theophylline, lidocaine, and clobenzorex, among others. In the next step, we employ quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) to quantify the caffeine content in the tablets. The results indicated a caffeine concentration ranging between 14% and 31% (m/m), which may imply a daily overdose of this compound from around four tablets. In summary, this investigation provides a chemical characterization of real samples of "Rebites" freely obtained along Brazilian highways. Caffeine emerged as the predominant active compound, with its concentration determined by qNMR analysis. The notable presence of caffeine, combined with other stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens, underscores the need for strict quality control measures regarding "Rebites" to safeguard public health.

Productive interdependence of tourist activities in Brazil

This paper examines the production linkages of Tourism Characteristic Activities in the Brazilian economy and breaks down the output variation of these activities into technological change and final demand effects. To do so, we use the hypothetical extraction and structural decomposition methods based on the Brazilian input-output matrices of 2010 and 2015. The main results show that the absence of tourist activities would cause a 0.83% reduction in the total output in Brazilian economy, and the impacts caused by the absence of the purchasing and selling structures of these activities were relatively low, which can be partially explained by the fact that tourist activities are oriented towards final demand. Furthermore, variations in the output of tourist activities are predominantly explained by the behavior of final demand, with a reduced impact of technical progress. Household consumption and exports are the ones that contributed the most to the variations in output.

Stainless steels as a solution for corrosion and erosion problems involving grains in agribusiness sector applications

Agricultural activities such as grain processing play a crucial role in Brazil's economy, contributing significantly to its gross domestic product (27.4% in 2021). The use of carbon steel equipment leads to considerable environmental and economic losses in agribusiness due to corrosion. This study explores the erosion-corrosion behavior of a dual-phase 11Cr and an 18Cr8Ni stainless steel (SS), compared to a mild (ASTM A36) and a high-strength carbon (AHSS) steel under conditions close to the agribusiness reality. The impact of corn particles as erosive component associated to pure water and chloride-containing environments was studied using a fog chamber, a topic until now unexplored in the literature. The methodology adopted is novel and explores the erosion-corrosion synergy in cumulative steps, aiming to shed light on the mechanisms of corrosion and wear that affect the materials in the agribusiness industry. The findings reveal that corn particles, despite their soft nature, can easily remove non-adherent corrosion products from the steel surface. In the deionized water medium, the impact of the soft particles can also shift the corrosion pattern of advanced high-strength steels from general corrosion to localized pitting damage reduzing the corrosion rates. The carbon and 11Cr steels showed the highest corrosion rates under the pure corrosion condition in both media. The erosion-corrosion process considerably reduced the corrosion rate, mainly in the deionized water medium for the carbon steels. An exception to this behavior was 18Cr8Ni steel, whose corrosion rates, however, were the lowest among the materials. Low-chromium stainless steel emerges as a cost-effective solution to erosion-corrosion challenges in the agribusiness segment.