This is a general survey of Brazilian society, economy, and political system since 1980. It describes the basic changes occurring as Brazil was transformed from a predominantly rural and closed economy under military rule into a modern democratic, industrial and urbanized society, with an extraordinary world class commercial agriculture in the past 60 years. In this period, Brazil passed from a pre-modern high fertility and mortality society to a modern low fertility and mortality one, the economy approached hyper inflation many times, and it abandoned a policy of protected industrialization to an economy opened to world trade. The advances and the failures of these changes are examined for the impact on questions of growth and equality. The book is designed as a basic introduction to contemporary Brazil from a recent historical perspective and is one of the first such comprehensive surveys of recent Brazilian history and development in any language.

"Luna and Klein provide an unrivalled treatment of the principal changes that swept Brazil in the late 20th century. This volume will be an invaluable reference for teachers, students, research scholars, journalists, and anyone interested in contemporary Brazilian affairs."
-William Summerhill, University of California, Los Angeles

"For a vision of [what Brazil is] and where [it is] going, read the book by Francisco Vidal Luna and Herbert S. Klein... The book speaks of the country which has changed radically in the past 25 years."
-João Sayad, Folha de São Paulo

"Brazil has become a modern urban and industrial economy, and an agricultural power-house. Understand here why Brazil aligns with Russia, India, and China to mold the world economy in the 21st century. This book documents the profound transformation in Brazilian society in the last quarter century."
-Edmar Bacha, Senior Fellow, Casa das Garças Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"The first in a new World Since 1980 series, which is designed to examine profound change in important countries over the past 25 years, Brazil Since 1980 is an instructive, fair-minded, and generally upbeat primer on the South American giant. Although the book is billed as a survey, experts will benefit from the sensible, broad perspectives of its authors, both prominent economic historians."
-Foreign Affairs

"Francisco Vidal Luna and Herbert S. Klein's concise survey of of Brazil since 1980 very effectively summarizes the transformations in the worlds fifth largest country...They also highlight what has failed to change since 1980 - the longstanding, profound, inequalities in Brazilian society...The clear presentation of the data offers the reader a very powerful and detailed picture of Brazilian society and its economy..."
Marshall C. Eakin, Vanderbilt University, Hispanic American Historical Review