Ashwin Nair presents a comparative look and contrasts the role of the state in the economic development of two BRICS countries, Brazil and China.

The Brazilian State and the Chinese state are two vastly different entities. While one has a history of military rule the other owes a lot to Maoist ideology. Today Brazil has a democratic form of Government whereas China’s government for over half a century has been composed of members from the same party, the Communist Party of China. But what impact has each of these states had on economic development? Is one form of state better than the other in ensuring greater economic development? These are the two main issues that will be addressed by taking a look at some key growth drivers in each of these economies and examining the role the state has played in these aspects.

Industrial Policy as a driver of Economic…