MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

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  Alexei

  That's astonishing. I was last in Brazil about 6 years ago. Things must have changed a great deal since then. There seemed to be an awful lot of very poor people about in 2006. I suppose 'middle class' doesn't mean quite the same in South America as it does in the northern hemisphere.

  Mar 26th, 2012 - 11:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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  A_Picasso

  When I left Brazil in 2001 to live in the UK- I couldn't ever imagined to see one day a headline like that! I go back there from time to time and you could clearly see the differences: people having more disposable income = buying more and/or spending in enterteinment, new business opening (especially in the food service sector). @Alex: you are right - the concept of 'middle class' in BR is very different from the Europe/US.

  Mar 26th, 2012 - 02:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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  Alexei

  @2 A_Picasso I was offered a property in Brazil in 2003 it would have cost the equivalent of £50,000. I wish I'd bought it. With the property prices in that region more than doubling, and the £ worth half what it was in 2003, it would now sell for around £250,000. C'est la vie :) Might even move back there one day... If I can afford to :D

  Mar 26th, 2012 - 03:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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  Fido Dido

  I remember Brazil from the 80's and late 90's. The cruzeiros and high low self esteem, because of the situation. In that time, Brazilians were people living in a nation of dreams and hope (good vs false). Finally, they are doing what they suppose to do, though they have a long way to go, but that doesn't matter at all. The point is, they do slowly what they suppose to do, see opportunities to improve themself that keeps them staying home and no need for going overseas except for vacation.
  
  world is changing, while the north is losing faith (not only in god), and going slowly bust, the south is slowly rising.

  Mar 26th, 2012 - 06:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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  razor654321

  Hmmmm, seems to me that if the North goes bust as you say, there's no way that commodities-based economies can rise. See, they have stuff in the ground that “the North” needs to make stuff or that China needs to make stuff to sell to “the North”. I'd be interested to hear how, if “the North” goes bust, “the South” can rise? How does that work exactly?

  Mar 26th, 2012 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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  Fido Dido

  “seems to me that if the North goes bust as you say”
  
  Pay attention and you realize yourself that the so called west is already bust. Broke nations that bail out broke institutions and nations, doesn't work and never will work out well for the people who are paying for it. This doesn't mean it's the end, but a begin for something else (new ideas can be old ideas again if your learn from history)
  
  “there's no way that commodities-based economies can rise.”
  Correct, they will and have right now major challenges to diversify (Innovation) their economy, which is very difficult, but with the will it's possible. FYI, Brazil is being called an only commodity based economy, wich is false if you do your proper research and not only by lame mainstream media that still lacks the will/knowledge to understand the real changes that is happening around the world.
  
  See, they have stuff in the ground that “the North” needs to make stuff or that China needs to make stuff to sell to “the North”.
  
  First, northern nations aren't the only nations that buy up commodities. Life gets difficult but goes on and so will they continue to buy with whatever they have, because they need it, though demand will go low and price will go high for them (old cheap days for them are over). China, other asian nations (include middle east) and even in continent Africa, where domestic economies are growing is there high demand for commodities to make stuff for export and domestic use. China, the manufacturing base of the world is about to change and they know that. They will have to concentrate on their huge domestic market and one of their weapon is to let their YUAN rise (decoupling of China of the west and ending dollar world currency) and will have a bigger effect on the world as we know it today.
  
  The re-emerging nations have challeges and opportunities. the north who are deleveraging have bigger challenges (domestic issues will eclipse foreign issues if understand the “comming” problems)

  Mar 27th, 2012 - 12:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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