As an employee of the World Bank, you have been asked to research 1 economic concern in a South American country and write a report on your findings.

Select a South American country to research.

Select one of the following economic concerns to research:

Quantities of specific goods and services

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Unemployment

Inflation

Research data sets for the 1 economic concern within the South American country that you have chosen.

In a 3–4 page report, answer the following questions:

What are relationships between the economic concern you selected and that specific country's economy?

What trends do you see in the data sets?

Support your assertions of the trends with statistical evidence.

Cite all of your sources correctly and include a reference list, both in APA style.

I have taken Brazil as the country to research. It is the fifth largest country in world. Brazil is the world's tenth largest economy at market exchange rates and the ninth largest in purchasing power. In 2007, Brazil launched a four-year plan to spend $300 billion to modernize its road network, power plants and ports (Wikipedia, 2010) Brazilians need to know who they are doing business with before they can work effectively. Brazilians prefer face-to-face meetings to written communication as it allows them to know the person with whom they are doing business. The individual they deal with is more important than the company. Since this is a group culture, it is important that you do not do anything to embarrass a Brazilian. (kwintessential.co.uk)

I have taken GDP as an economic concern

As per wikipedia “The gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the measures of national income and input for a given country's economy. GDP is defined as the total cost of all finished goods and services produced within the country in a stipulated period of time (usually a 365-day year). It is sometimes regarded as the sum of profits added at every level of production (the intermediate stages) of all final goods and services produced within a country in a stipulated timeframe, and it is rarely given a monetary value. (Wikipedia)

Brazil’s situation

As per CIA handbook, “Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments, adhering to an inflation target, and committing to fiscal responsibility. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and two ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After record growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in September 2008. Brazil's currency and its stock market - Bovespa - saw large swings as foreign investors pulled resources out of Brazil. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up. However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. Consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth returned to positive in the second quarter, 2009. The Central Bank expects growth of 5% for 2010.”

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.025 trillion (2009 est.)

Country comparison to the world: 10

$2.029 trillion (2008 est.)

$1.931 trillion (2007 est.)

note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate:

-0.2% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 113

5.1% (2008 est.)

6.1% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,200 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 105

$10,300 (2008 est.)

$10,000 (2007 est.)

note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.5%

industry: 25.8%

services: 67.7% (2009 est.)

Comparison with other South American countries

South American Markets as per GDP

Rank in world / Country / GDP
10 / Brazil / $2,024,000 million
24 / Argentina / $558,000 million
29 / Colombia / $400,300 million
32 / Venezuela / $355,200 million
45 / Peru / $253,400 million
47 / Chile / $244,300 million
65 / Ecuador / $107,100 million
91 / Bolivia / $45,130 million
92 / Uruguay / $44,050 million
107 / Paraguay / $28,280 million
163 / Suriname / $4,182 million
172 / Guyana / $2,973 million
Source:CIA World Factbook[3]
GDP per capita (PPP) 2009
Rank in world / Country / GDP
per capita
57 / Chile / $14,700
58 / Argentina / $13,800
96 / Venezuela / $13,200
65 / Uruguay / $12,600
68 / Brazil / $10,200
99 / Colombia / $9,200
103 / Suriname / $8,800
97 / Peru / $8,600
101 / Ecuador / $7,300
125 / Bolivia / $4,600
107 / Paraguay / $4,100
105 / Guyana / $3,900
Source:List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita
Brazil forms major part of South American markets ,is the largest economy on the basis of absolute GDP. It has also recovered well from the crisis.
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