Bolsonaro presidency and foreign investors

UPDATE ON 2020: I have reviewed this post. You may check the critique at
https://adler.net.br/en/bolsonaros-first-year-i-was-wrong-about-china-but-right-about-the-banking-industry/

The election of Jair Bolsonaro as the next Brazilian president is very probable.

In this post, I will describe his base of support and the official documents of his campaign and present some conclusions on how his government will affect foreign investors.

The initial two thirds of the post will review the scenario and the candidate’s proposals. My personal views and forecast follow in the end.

1.     SCENARIO

I.             THE MEN BEHIND BOLSONARO’s PLAN FOR THE ECONOMY

Before ultimately choosing Paulo Guedes as his ministry for economic affairs (he is in the right of the picture) Bolsonaro had a political affair with Mr. Adolfo Sachsida.

Sachsida is a PHD in economics, with a post-doc degree from the University of Alabama. He has kept a blog and a YouTube channel for many years, which he used to defend that Brazil desperately needed more economic freedom. He may be called a classic liberal, in the sense of an advocate for small government and free enterprise (close to a libertarian, definitely not a liberal as in “left-wing”).

Ultimately, Bolsonaro chose Mr. Paulo Guedes, who is also an economist with clear free market inclination. He has a PHD from the University of Chicago and is the founder of a think tank dedicated to free enterprise, called Instituto Millenium, through which he has published many articles criticizing Brazilian excessive bureaucracy, taxes and government intrusion.

Moreover, Mr. Paulo Guedes is a well-know player in the market. He has founded Ibmec, a very successful college that teaches business and economics. He has also worked in the financial market and is one of the founders of Banco Pactual bank.

In short, Bolsonaro has been building relationships with advisors who are unquestionably pro-business.

II.            BUSINESS GROUPS BACKING BOLSONARO

Undeniably, Bolsonaro enjoys a very high popular approval. This is his real strength. The industries mentioned here should not be understood as hidden puppeteers running the show, but only as lateral supporters.

a)           Agriculture

Agribusiness has been an early adopter of Bolsonaro. This has much to do with the previous government’s support for land expropriations, invasion of land by guerrilla movements and severe environmental restrictions.

b)           Banks

Banks and other financial institutions were, to some extent, comfortable under the worker’s party (PT). The economy had good periods and credit expansion was incentivized. Moreover, the government’s increase in expenses relied heavily on internal loans. Business was good.

In the last 04 years, the severe economic recession damaged the relationship between PT and banks.  

Geraldo Alckmin, the candidate from PSDB party, was supposed to be the candidate of the financial sector. His party is basically favorable to increase in government expenses, although not so radically anti-business as PT.

However, Alckmin’s performance in the pools (and eventually in the actual first round of voting) was dismal. As a result, the financial industry ended up favoring Bolsonaro, who is not n favor of increasing government indebtedness, but who at least offers a pro-business agenda.

c)           Industrial sector

Support from organizations representing the industrial sector has never been enthusiastic. Nevertheless, Bolsonaro was the only candidate to firmly promise to uphold and perfect the labor laws reforms approved recently. So, they joined him.

III.          OTHER SOURCES OF SUPPORT

Some of the non-business entities that support the candidate are the state’s Police Forces, some sector of the Military, most Protestant churches and a relatively small part of the Catholic Church. There have been hints of support from the Freemasonry.

2.     ANALYSIS OF THE OFFICIAL PROGRAM

I.             OPENING

The campaign program opens with a bold statement in favor of private property.

People must be free to make choices. The material fruits of those choices, if generated honestly in a free-enterprise economy, have a name: PRIVATE PROPERTY. (…) your car, you land are fruit of your work (…). They are sacred and can’t be stolen, invaded or expropriated.

(the expression “private property” is in all caps in the document)

The program indicates that the rules providing for equal treatment of foreigners and Brazilians will be maintained.

Any person in the national territory, even if he is not a Brazilian citizen, has inalienable rights as a human being, and has the duty to obey the laws of Brazil.

II.            MAIN ECONOMIC PROBLEMS DIAGNOSED IN THE PROGRAM

The main issues that the new administration wishes to address are:

a)           Insufficient and deteriorated infrastructure;

b)           Health and education nearing collapse;

c)           High unemployment, as official statistics count 13 million people without work;

d)           Explosive deficit in Federal budget.

This last topic receives considerable attention. The primary deficit (before payment of interests) is described as 139 billion BRL (37,5 billion USD). The team promises to reduce it rapidly, by reducing expenses, mainly by removing political appointees from the Federal structure.

The nominal deficit (which includes expenses with the payment of interests), amounting to 489,3 billion BRL (132,2 billion USD), is described as a great reason for concern. The deficit in the public pension system (around 77 billion USD each year) is also included in the list of problems.

III.          STRUCTURAL PROPOSALS

a)    Privatization programs

Aggressive privatization of state-owned companies.

b)   Further relaxation of labor laws

c)    Changes in the forecast of expenses in the yearly budget

The government will adopt zero-based budgeting, as an effort to trim as much unnecessary expenses as possible.

d)   Blending and reduction of ministries

The minister of economic affairs will probably absorb several other ministries, such as the Treasure, Planning, Industry, etc. 

IV.          SPECIFIC PROPOSALS

a)    Reduction of import tariffs and trade agreements

There is a proposal to reduce import taxes, eliminate non-tariff barriers and to enter into new bilateral trade agreements.

The program mentions incentives to the importation of high-tech machines to enhance the adoption of “industry 4.0” and the success rate of startups and scale-ups.

b)   Reduction of daily bureaucracy and tightening of compliance

The project proposed by the campaign team is twofold.

One promise is to reduce daily bureaucracy, the infamous need for stamps and certified copies that is so common in Brazil. There is a promise to unify the procedures for incorporation and liquidation of companies.

Another ramification of this topic is the promise to crack down on corruption and tax evasion.

c)    Tax reforms

The projects for this area are:

·      Progressive reduction of overall tax burden;

·      Consolidation of federal taxes in one, or very few;

·      Reduction of Federal tax income and increase in the municipality tax income;

Note: Concentration of tax revenue at the Federal level is a huge problem in Brazil, since it leaves municipalities and states in a very disadvantageous position when negotiating with the Federal government. This may require constitutional reform.

·           Institution of a general system of negative income tax, to replace the limited system of Federal assistance

Note: A system of this kind would reduce the leverage of the Worker’s Party, since direct handling of monetary benefits is a big campaigning point for PT.

d)   Social security reform

For social security, the project is to create a parallel system of individual contribution and to reduce the mandatory withholding of social security tax in the paychecks. The plan is to progressively reduce the current system, which is dependent on complementary funding from taxes, and to shift as many people as possible to the new individual contribution system.

e)    Agribusiness

Bolsonaro’s Project for the area include the blending of the ministries for agriculture and environment protection. Ministries that are connected to agribusiness, such as fishing will also be agglutinated and subject to centralized policies.

f)     Energy

Overall, reduction and simplification of regulation. The program brings heavy criticism of former president Dilma’s policy of mandatory review of rules for the electricity sector.

There is mention of putting an end to the rules demanding minimum percentage of local content for Petrobras’ purchases.

Also, the program mentions a reform in the rules for distribution of natural gas.

                                                                                  

g)   Infrastructure

Great emphasis on the need for renovation of railroads, ports and airports.  The cabinet will try to attract private investment for these areas.

3.    MY PERSONAL OPINION AND FORECAST  

Bolsonaro’s assessment of the Brazilian situation is very accurate. And the solutions are on point. I believe that, in economic terms, his government will be very successful.

I.             my forecast for LEGAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

a)    Restrictions to the purchase of rural land by Chinese investors

Since the Lula presidency, Brazilian law has been tweaked to make it harder for foreigners to purchase rural land. Many lawyers have studied the issue and concluded that the limitations were unconstitutional. But the fact is that severe restrictions are already in place.

Bolsonaro agrees with such restrictions and has openly criticized the purchase of large areas by foreign investors, especially Chinese (but also Arabs and others).

His administration will probably apply measures to make it harder for foreign investors to purchase property titles. Those measures could mean anything from harder administrative control over deeds to an actual constitutional reform.

The practical impact of these restrictions for daily business should be low. The market has already adapted to the current restrictions, by shifting from land purchase to contracts for sale of future crops, joint-ventures and similar arrangements.

b)   Reduction of red tape in environmental licensing for mining and agricultural projects

Bolsonaro has promised to ease environmental restrictions. But, more than waiving legal requirements, which would require legal changes subject to congress, his administration will probably restructure the environmental law enforcement agencies and the procedures for acquiring licenses.

Environmental licensing is partially managed by states and partially managed by the Federal Government. The productive sector has accused the agencies involved in the process of being slow, ideologically biases and, at times, corrupt.

It is an absolute certainty that they are slow. Licensing takes years.

I must note that similar programs to reduce bureaucracy have been adopted by the Temer government in several specific areas, such as in the customs, with very good and fast results.

c)           Mercosul will lose prestige

Bilateral agreements will be favoured. 

d)           More demanding tax and legal compliance

One can anticipate stricter tax penalties and enforcement of anti-corruption controls.

e)           Petrobras will not be privatized, yet

Bolsonaro’s cabinet should include several military advisors, who will act as a counter-balance to Mr. Guedes’ libertarian views. Companies that are deemed essential to national security, such as the nuclear energy companies and Petrobras, will probably remain under Federal control.

f)            Legalization of ownership of guns for personal use

This is a huge campaigning point. Brazil allows the ownership of guns, in theory, but administrative and importation restrictions make them available only to the upper middle-class or to people with connections.

The stocks of Forjas Taurus, the main arms manufacturer in Brazil, have increased in value significantly during 2018, in anticipation of a surge in sales.

g)           Purchase of military and defense equipment

The military and the state police forces will receive special attention. The arms industry, including not only pistols and offensive equipment, but also intelligence technology and vehicles, should keep an eye in Brazil.

h)           Banks and the financial market

My clients who work in the financial market are very excited and expect an increase in foreign investment, mergers & acquisitions and in the general economic activity.

II.            ADDRESSING CRITICS

As I’m writing this article, about 10 days from the 2^nd round of the election, there are many manifestos, declarations and articles, mostly from left-wing thinkers, that condemn Bolsonaro’s economic plans, or that suggest that, despite his plans, his government will turn to dictatorship and eventually ruin Brazilian institutions and international credibility.

There are too many of them. But names such as Piketty and media outlets such as The Economist will give the reader an idea of what I’m talking about.

Plainly speaking, I deem this kind of criticism utter nonsense. I have read all the material I could find and perceived that there has been very little analysis of Bolsonaro’s actual plans.

Most criticism is based on ideology or is, simply put, propaganda. There is no analysis of his actual cabinet members, political base or economic policies.

The people who studied the plan and that have skin in the game, such as financial firms, stock brokers and Brazilian banks, approved the proposals and do react positively each time a pool shows that the chances of the candidate are increasing.