Discovering South America: Brazil

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The Economy: Powerhouse Potential

Services In terms of percentage of labor force employed and percentage of GDP, ser- vices make up the largest sector of Brazil’s economy. A majority (68 percent) of the labor force works in the service sector, which accounts for over 65 percent of the country’s GDP. Among the service sector’s important fields are banking, transportation, health care, education, and communications. With its beaches, wildlife, and cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is a popular destination for tourists. Many of Brazil’s service-sector jobs support tourism. One category of service-sector employment deserves particular mention, and not necessarily in a positive light: government. Brazil has long been known for its bloated bureaucracy (unelected government officials), and citizens frequently complain about the amount of paperwork, time, and inconvenience involved in even routine official dealings such as obtaining a driver’s license, birth certificate, or business license. (Bribing the responsible government workers, Brazilians know, can make things much easier.) In recent years, there have been numerous public protests against government corruption, and it remains a major issue in Brazil.

TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS 1. What did the government do in 1994 to boost Brazil’s economy? 2. Brazil is a leading producer of what two agricultural products? 3. What is the name of the national oil company of Brazil?