The Black Diamonds of Bahia (Carbonados) and the Building of Euro-America: A Half-century Supply Monopoly (1880s-1930s)

This paper traces the birth, maturity and decline of what was Bahia’s natural supply monopoly of black or industrial diamonds: first used in polishing materials (for consumption); then in drilling; and by 1940 they were employed in making parts for the Third Reich’s premier fighter plane, the Messerschmitt bF 109. The evolution in the way these stones were produced, the agents involved in production and distribution, and how the income was distributed along the commodity chain are examined. The importance of technological change is documented with the huge boost in demand for industrial diamonds when the Leschot diamond-head drill was invented (1863). The First World War cut off Bahia from traditional intermediaries and opened up a space for North American capital. A great surge in black diamond production in Bahia was led by the Bandler Corporation of New York, which introduced modern machine-based mining in the late 1920s; but the Great Depression doomed the venture. Between 1931 and 1941, keen secret competition arose to secure access to Bahia’s diamonds between the rising Axis and the Allied powers given the crucial role these stones played in making the modern weapons of war. The first section analyses the emergence of Brazil’s natural monopoly in black diamonds. The second points out the crucial importance technological change (the Leschot diamond-head drill). The next section develops a unique analysis of how earnings were distributed along the black diamond commodity chain at the turn of the twentieth century. The final section underscores how the Great War created a vacuum into which North American capital plunged, such that by the late 1920s for the first time modern machinery was being used for the mass production of black diamonds in Brazil. While the Great Depression frustrated these efforts, the looming Axis and Allied contenders carried out secret schemes to secure Brazil’s black diamonds so central to the execution of modern war

Financial system, innovation and regional development: a study on the relationship between liquidity preference and innovation in Brazil

This paper discusses and assesses the features of the Brazilian Financial System, as well as the impacts of Liquidity Preference on Credit and Regional Development in Brazil. Precisely, we test the relationship between credit and development, and the role of banks in regional development. We estimate a panel across states in Brazil in order to test the impact of liquidity preference and other financial variables on Brazilian states credit level. We have also tested the relationship between liquidity preference and other financial variables across states and the number of patents, aiming at testing the importance of technology and innovation on regional development by means of bank system. Conclusions confirm both hypotheses.Monetary System, National Innovation System, Credit

Financial system, innovation and regional development: a study on the relationship between liquidity preference and innovation in Brazil

This paper discusses and assesses the features of the Brazilian Financial System, as well as the impacts of Liquidity Preference on Regional Development in Brazil. In the post-Keynesian literature, money is considered endogenous to the economic system, introduced in the economic activity through the credit provided by banks. Taken as non-neutral, banks are economic agents which can present lower or higher liquidity preference. Because of that, banks are also particularly important to the development process. Precisely, we tested the influence of credit and the role of banks in regional development. We estimate a panel across states in Brazil in order to test the impact of liquidity preference and other financial variables on Brazilian states’ number of patents, aiming at testing the importance of the bank system to technological progress and regional development. Conclusions confirm both hypotheses.Monetary System, National Innovation System, Credit, Brazil

Condicionantes do desenvolvimento do Estado da Bahia, Os

[por] Esta tese foi elaborada com o objetivo de demonstrar que o desenvolvimento econômico e social do Estado da Bahia não vem se viabilizando pela falta de um projeto político progressista que contribua para utilizar na plenitude as forças impulsionadoras de seu desenvolvimento e para neutralizar suas forças restritivas. Na elaboração desta tese, estabeleceu-se a premissa de que, sendo o Brasil e, por extensão, o Estado da Bahia, produtos da primeira fase da globalização da economia mundial e que ainda sofrem as conseqüências desse processo, seria imprescindível que se analisasse sua evolução ao longo de cinco séculos a fim de extrair conclusões sobre os fatores impulsionadores do desenvolvimento econômico e social dos países líderes do capitalismo mundial e sobre os fatores restritivos ao desenvolvimento econômico e social dos países periféricos e semiperiféricos da economia mundial, inclusive o Brasil. É importante ressaltar que, ao efetuar a análise do processo de globalização da economia mundial, procurou-se identificar a dinâmica de evolução do sistema capitalista mundial nos últimos cinco séculos, com todos os seus efeitos relacionados com o desenvolvimento e o subdesenvolvimento das nações e com as desigualdades sociais e econômicas mundiais resultantes. Outra premissa estabelecida foi a de que seria fundamental analisar a experiência desenvolvimentista de alguns países que apresentaram desempenho notável na segunda metade do Século XX, bem como a evolução da economia brasileira e do Estado da Bahia do Século XVI ao Século XX a fim de extrair conclusões sobre os fatores impulsionadores de seu desenvolvimento econômico e social e de suas limitações. As conclusões extraídas da análise do processo de globalização da economia mundial do Século XVI ao Século XX e da experiência desenvolvimentista no Século XX de países selecionados, bem como da evolução da economia brasileira e do Estado da Bahia do Século XVI ao Século XX serviram de base à identificação dos fatores condicionantes do desenvolvimento econômico e social de um país ou de uma região. De posse das informações acima citadas sobre a economia mundial, a brasileira e a do Estado da Bahia procurou-se, inicialmente, identificar os fatores condicionantes do desenvolvimento econômico e social e, em seguida, conceituar o que seria um projeto progressista de desenvolvimento que passaria a se constituir no referencial analítico dos planos e políticas governamentais de desenvolvimento elaborados e seus resultados no Estado da Bahia. Ficou demonstrado que o desenvolvimento econômico e social, que significa transformação, mudança, progresso, criação e distribuição de riqueza, não vem ocorrendo no Estado da Bahia desde a época colonial, porque a grande maioria de sua população sempre ficou à margem dos frutos das atividades econômicas existentes. Nem mesmo após a industrialização processada na década de 70 com a implantação do Pólo Petroquímico de Camaçari mudou significativamente essa situação. Não houve, portanto, crescimento econômico compatível com as demandas da sociedade, redução das desigualdades sociais e regionais de renda, nem muito menos desenvolvimento sustentável. Um projeto político assumiria um caráter progressista no Estado da Bahia se, além de contribuir para o pleno desenvolvimento da economia baiana, promovesse o bem-estar de sua população, isto é, atendesse às demandas sociais e ambientais, além de promover o desenvolvimento de todas as suas regiões; se o desenvolvimento econômico ocorresse simultaneamente com o desenvolvimento social e ambiental, o que só se daria se as decisões das estruturas de poder do Estado fossem compatibilizadas com a vontade da grande maioria da população. Seria a forma de contrabalançar as desigualdades sociais, econômicas e ambientais geradas pelo desenvolvimento do capitalismo na era atual. Só assim seria possível fazer com que um projeto de desenvolvimento assumisse um caráter progressista no Estado da Bahia.[eng] The object of this thesis is to demonstrate that the advancement of the social and economic development of Bahia is being hampered by lack of a progressist political project capable of making full use of the driving forces of its development and neutralizing restraining forces. This thesis is based on the assumption that Brazil (and by extension, the State of Bahia) being the product of the first stage of the world economy's globalization process, and still suffering the consequences of such process, an analysis of its evolution along these five centuries is crucial for identifying the driving and restraining forces of the social and economic development of the core nations of world capitalism, and of the peripheral and semi-peripheral nations of the world economy, including Brazil. Another assumption was that it would be essential to study the developmental experience of those nations that had a remarkable performance during the second half of the twentieth century, as well as the evolution of the Brazilian and Bahian economy from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, in order to identify both the driving and restrictive forces of their social and economic development. The findings of the study of the globalization process of the world economy from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, and of the twentieth century developmental experience of selected nations, as well as of the evolution of the Brazilian and Bahian economy between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, were the basis for identifying the conditioning factors of the social and economic development of a nation or region. Based on the conditioning factors of social and economic development, it is evident that such development, i.e., transformation, change, progress, creation and distribution of wealth, has not occurred in the State of Bahia since colonial times. Not even the industrialization of the state that evolved during the 70s, with the establishment of the Camaçari Petrochemical Complex, caused any significant change in the situation. There has thus been no economic growth compatible with societal demands or reduction of social and regional income inequalities, much less sustainable development

El Centro Industrial Subaé como instrumento de desarrollo económico y regional

A partir dos anos 1970, o governo do estado da Bahia começa a por em prática, uma vigorosa política de industrialização através da “interiorização” da produção. Neste sentido, foi implementado em Feira de Santana (a segunda maior cidade do estado), um complexo de indústrias denominado Centro Industrial do Subaé(CIS) para servir como complemento ao eixo industrial que já havia se estabelecido na capital. A proposta deste artigo é discutir as perspectivas atuais do Centro Industrial do Subaé, de modo a entender a sua dinâmica e perspectivas futuras. Como resultados obtidos, inferiu-se que o CIS promoveu uma “desconcentração concentrada” na qual poucas indústrias concentram a maior parte dos investimentos em um modelo de desenvolvimento regional que apresenta sinais de esgotamento.From the 1970s onwards, the government of the state of Bahia began to implement a vigorous policy of industrialization through the “internalization” of production. In this sense, a complex of industries called Centro Industrial do Subaé (CIS) was implemented in Feira de Santana (the second largest city in the state) to complement the industrial axis that had already been established in the capital. The purpose of this article is to discuss the current perspectives of the Subaé Industrial Center, in order to understand its dynamics and future perspectives. As results obtained, it was inferred that the CIS promoted a “concentrated deconcentration” in which few industries concentrate most of the investments in a regional development model that shows signs of exhaustion.A partir de la década de 1970, el gobierno del estado de Bahía comenzó a implementar una vigorosa política de industrialización a través de la “internalización” de la producción. En este sentido, se implementó un complejo industrial denominado Centro Industrial do Subaé (CIS) en Feira de Santana (la segunda ciudad más grande del estado) para complementar el eje industrial que ya se había establecido en la capital. El propósito de este artículo es discutir las perspectivas actuales del Centro Industrial Subaé, con el fin de comprender su dinámica y perspectivas futuras. Como resultados obtenidos, se infirió que el CIS impulsó una “desconcentración concentrada” en la que pocas industrias concentran la mayor parte de las inversiones en un modelo de desarrollo regional que muestra signos de agotamiento

Study about the produced patents and the profile of the inventors of the federal institutions of education, science and technology

Descreve e analisa patentes depositadas pelos atuais Institutos Federais de Educação, Ciência, e Tecnologia (IFs), fundados em 2008, e pelos Centros Federais de Educação Tecnológica (CEFETs) que os precederam, recuperadas na Base de Dados do Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Intelectual (INPI), até 31 de dezembro de 2012. O levantamento na base do INPI identificou 44 patentes depositadas, das quais 14 publicadas e 30 em sigilo. Essas patentes são descritas segundo dois conjuntos de variáveis: relacionadas ao próprio documento (tipo de patente, distribuição geográfica, titulares, inventores, data de depósito, data de publicação e seção da Classificação Internacional de Patentes (CIP)); e variáveis relacionadas aos inventores (sexo, bolsa de produtividade, grupos de pesquisa, enquadramento funcional e titulação), essas identificadas na base de currículos da Plataforma Lattes. Resultados mostram quatro depósitos de patentes pelos CEFETs e 40 depósitos de patentes pelos IFs a partir de 2008 até a data de corte desta pesquisa. A maioria dessas patentes está classificada na seção A (necessidades humanas) da CIP. A Região Nordeste se destaca como maior depositante, e nela especialmente o IF da Bahia. Foram notadas poucas mulheres entre os inventores, e também poucas parcerias, e entre essas parcerias, apenas uma com indústria. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis research describes and analyzes patents deposited by the present Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology (IFs), founded in 2008, and by the Federal Centers of Technological Education (CEFETs) that preceded them. These patents were retrieved from the database of the National Institute for Intellectual Property (INPI), till December 31st, 2012. The survey in the INPI database identified 44 patents, from which 14 were published and 30 of them were trade secret. These patents are described according to two sets of variables with reference to the document itself (type of patent, geographic distribution, patentees, inventors, deposit date, publication date and section of the International Classification of Patents (ICP); and variables with regard to the inventors (sex, productivity scholarship, research groups, functional framework and academic degree). These are identified in the curricula vitae base of the Lattes Platform. Results show four deposits of patents fulfilled by the CEFETs and 40 patents deposited by the Federal Institutes (IFs) from 2008 until the conclusion of this research. The majority of these patents are classified in section A (human needs) of the ICP. The northeastern region is highlighted as the largest depositor, especially the Federal Institute of Bahia. Among the inventors, there are few women as well as few partnerships, and among these, just one with industry

Integration once again: The Brazilian Northeast in the context of EU-Mercosul trade relations

Integration has meant great changes for Brazilian Northeast since its becoming part of the regional division of labour that allowed the constitution of a single domestic production system in the country in the 1950s. This process required the Northeastern economy to adjust to the extent of embarking into new industrial sectors and dismantling old industrial capacity, such as textiles. This adjustment has however developed the region's industrial capacity and competitiveness which allowed it to improve exports - both foreign and interregional - and reduce its so-called "structural" trade deficit in the 1980s. This context has changed by the constitution of the South American Common Market - the Mercosul. The new trade block has inspired northeastern polititians and diverse analysts to argue that the regional economy is to become less important for Brazilian domestic market and production system, as the interindustrial links are to enhance among southern and southeastern firms. Government expenditures as well as private investments concentrated in these regions gives them the explanation for their belief. The recent moves towards increasing the commercial links between the European Union and the Mercosul bring new facts to the context. The Northeast could emerge as holding competitive advantages out of this integration process into which the Brazilian economy is getting. There could be argued that the region's historical backwardness could decrease in the context of fusions, acquisitions and the like by European capital? Would not this be the case of moving backwards to the period in which there was no integrated domestic market and the Northeast, as other regions in Brazil, basically traded with European partners. These are the main questions this paper is to answer.

A expansão urbana da cidade do Salvador e os seus mananciais: estabelecendo paralelos

O sítio escolhido para implantação da cidade de Salvador se caracteriza por ser um reservatório natural de águas, sempre renovadas pelo clima úmido e pelo elevado índice pluviométrico. A população de Salvador que no inicio do século XX não chegava a 300 mil habitantes, no final ultrapassava dois milhões. Por outro lado, ao tempo em que a área urbana se amplia, a cidade segue em busca de atender às demandas de água da sua população, porém deixando para trás problemas ambientais de grande monta. Utilizando-se de fontes secundarias, este estudo descreve, a partir de recortes temporais, como ocorreu o abastecimento d’água nesta cidade. Sua expansão física e populacional deu-se associada ao desenvolvimento econômico, entretanto, as políticas de abastecimento hídrico não corresponderam às necessidades da sua população ao longo dos séculos, impactando assim de forma negativa na sua qualidade ambiental, confirmando um processo de urbanização perverso, marcado pela exclusão social.The site chosen for the implantation of the city of Salvador characterizes for being a natural water reservoir, always renewed by the humid climate and the elevated pluviometer index. Salvador’s population that, in the beginning of 20th century didn’t reach 300 thousand habitants, in the end would pass 2 millions. On the other hand, while the urban area grows, the city seeks to supply the water demands of its population, although leaving behind large scale environmental problems. Utilizing second sources this study describes, from time periods, how the water supply occurred in this city. The physical and population expansion were given to economic development, however the water supply politics didn’t correspond the needs of its population out the centuries impacting in a negative way on its environment quality, and witch means we satiate a perverse process of urbanization, marked by social exclusion