Brazilian Government Wastes US$ 46 Billion in Programs with No Return

07/23/2018 - 11h25

A new study by Brazil's Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) evaluated 20 subsidy programs carried out by the federal government.

In four of them the country has spent R$ 173 billion (US$ 46 billion) since the first Lula (PT) administration- their objectives, however, have not been reached.

The accumulated amount is more than the government's primary deficit last year: R$ 124 billion (US$ 33 billion). And it is still growing.

It is the first time that an agency connected to the government analyzes this type of expenditure - before it, incentives had been given without offset evaluation.

In the survey carried out for Folha, the programs assessed included the Investment Maintenance Program (PSI), Profrota Pesqueira, the relaxation of payrolls and the One Computer per Student Program (Prouca). The Ipea says the other programs showed some result - these include rural credit programs as well as the National Broadband Plan.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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