2018年-WEF世界经济论坛_The_Brazil_Competitiveness_and_Inclusive_Growth_Lab_Report_38页_2mb

Brazil Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth Lab Report Summary

Core Content

The Brazil Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth Lab Report (March 2018) is a comprehensive analysis of Brazil's economic competitiveness and the challenges it faces in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. It outlines the key factors affecting productivity and competitiveness, including institutional inefficiencies, high costs of doing business, low innovation output, and limited integration into global value chains (GVCs). The report also emphasizes the need for improved public policies and a more transparent regulatory environment.

Main Objectives

• To identify the main competitiveness challenges in Brazil.
• To develop actionable policy recommendations to enhance productivity and inclusiveness.
• To support the design and implementation of an agenda for competitiveness improvement through public-private collaboration.

Key Findings and Recommendations

1. Competitiveness Challenges in Brazil

• Brazil ranks 80th out of 137 economies in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI), placing it as the least competitive among the BRICS nations.
• The country lags behind its Latin American neighbors like Chile, Colombia, and Peru.
• Brazil's total factor productivity (TFP) has been negative over the past two decades, indicating inefficiencies in resource allocation and economic performance.
• The "Custo Brasil" (Brazil Cost) is a major obstacle to business operations, characterized by:
  • A highly complex tax system.
  • Poor infrastructure.
  • Unpredictable regulatory and legal environment.
  • Inefficient bureaucracy.

2. Innovation and Technological Readiness

• Innovation is a key driver of productivity and competitiveness, yet Brazil's innovation output remains below potential.
• Brazil's Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications are very low, with only 0.003% of global applications in 2017, compared to 74% from the top five innovation leaders.
• Brazil's R&D expenditure as a share of GDP is 1.17%, which is about half of the OECD average (2.5%).
• The country has made progress in reducing patent backlog but still needs to improve the innovation ecosystem and technological readiness.

3. Global Value Chain (GVC) Integration and Trade

• Brazil's trade openness is limited, with exports and imports accounting for less than a quarter of GDP.
• High nominal tariff rates (13.6% in 2016) and non-tariff barriers hinder GVC integration and foreign investment.
• The country's perception of non-tariff barriers has worsened over the years, ranking 130th in 2017.
• Customs procedures are also inefficient, ranking 124th in the GCI.

4. Public Policies and Institutional Reforms

• Public policies in Brazil have not been effective in raising productivity, partly due to poor design and lack of transparency.
• The government needs to improve policy accountability and efficiency through the integration of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Subsidy programs lack these mechanisms, making it difficult to assess their impact.
• Reforms in labor, tax, and credit markets are essential to enhance competitiveness and inclusiveness.

5. Inclusive Growth and Social Equity

• Competitiveness policies must address inequality and inclusion as cross-cutting issues.
• The Pronatec Indústria program is a step in the right direction, but more efforts are needed to align skill supply with industry needs.
• A knowledge-intensive workforce is crucial for innovation and productivity, with Brazil's share at 21.6%, lower than OECD countries (39.8%).

Methodology and Structure

• The report is based on the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report and data from the Executive Opinion Survey.
• The Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth Lab model was adapted from previous initiatives in Colombia and Mexico.
• The report is divided into five sections:
  1. The Competitiveness Challenge in Brazil
  2. Methodology and Framework
  3. Work Stream 1: GVC Integration and Innovation
  4. Work Stream 2: A New Generation of Public Policies
  5. Work Stream 3: Institutional, Legal, and Regulatory Framework

Implementation and Future Outlook

• The Lab initiative aims to develop an achievable agenda for competitiveness improvement.
• The Debureauratization Decree (2017) and São Paulo reforms have made progress in simplifying the business environment.
• The success of the initiative depends on the collaboration between public and private sectors and the mobilization of resources.
• The Forum looks forward to continuing this model in other Latin American countries to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.

Conclusion

• Brazil's competitiveness challenges are structural and require long-term reforms.
• Improving innovation, trade integration, public policy effectiveness, and regulatory efficiency are crucial for sustainable growth.
• Addressing inequality and inclusion must be central to any competitiveness agenda.
• The Lab initiative offers a structured and collaborative approach to tackle these issues and build a more resilient and productive economy.