Economic Democracy – Meeting Some Management Challenges: Changing Scenarios in Brazil

Orthodoxy is failing, both in the traditional statism and the free-market approaches. Inequality is becoming a key issue world-wide, aggravated by environmental dramas and the financial chaos. The Brazilian approach can be seen as basically pragmatic. It is reducing inequality through simple measures, which are expanding internal consumption, and opening new opportunities for business and jobs. Financial support is not going to banks, but to productive sectors most hit by the international turmoil, and this is maintaining low unemployment. Environmental issues, particularly the destruction of the Amazon forest, are being faced through strong support for the greening initiatives, and social infrastructure in cities. However fragile in this international context, this down-to-earth approach brings lessons that can be useful to consult.