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The aim of this study is to investigate whether the so-called crowding in effects of complementarity or the crowding out effects of substitution occurred between public investment and private investment in Brazil from 1982 to 2013. This will be carried out through a theoretical debate on the investment general dynamics and an econometric analysis of vector error correction (VEC) model for the Brazilian case. The trajectory of the Brazilian economy and the empirical results show the presence of crowding in between public and private investments in the period, in accordance with the Post-Keynesian approaches. The crowding in is justified by the effects on demand via the Keynesian multiplier and via the expansion of the domestic market (particularly provided by infrastructure) and by the effects on the supply of private capital through the reduction of production costs, the increase in productivity, and through structural changes facilitated by public policy. Complementarity with regard to both the investments of the public administration and of federal government-owned/controlled enterprises is confirmed. Furthermore, a significant causal relationship is observed between public investment and the output of industrial manufacturing, which, from the structuralist perspective, is a sector that is considered a driving force of the economy. The special contributions of this paper are its time series for public investment and the variety of models that show crowding in between public and private investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is a middle-income country with universal maternity care, mostly by doctors. The experience of normal birth often includes rigid routines, aggressive interventions, and abusive, disrespectful treatment. In Brazil, this has been referred to as dehumanised care and, more recently, as obstetric violence. Since the early 1990s, social movements (SM) have struggled to change practices, public policies and provider training. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the role of SM in promoting change in maternity care, and in provider training. In this integrative review using a gender-oriented approach, we searched the Scielo database and the Ministry of Health’s (MofH) publications and edicts for institutional and research papers on SM initiatives addressing disrespect and abuse in the last 25 years (1993-2018) in Brazil, and their impact on public policies and training programmes. We analyse these groups of interrelated initiatives: (1) political actions of SM resulting in changes in public policies and legislation; (2) events organised by SM for diffusion of information to the public; (3) MofH policies to humanise childbirth with participation of SM; and (4) initiatives to change providers’ training, including legal actions based on obstetric violence reports. To promote real change in maternity care, the progression of policies and enabling environment of laws, regulations, and broad dissemination of information, need to go hand in hand with changes in all health providers’ training - including a solid base in ethics, gender and human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This scoping review investigates the relationship between governance, pharmacovigilance, and Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA) in Brazil, which has authority over Brazil's national pharmaceutical policy, drug registration and coordination of the national pharmacovigilance system. The purpose is to investigate opportunities for effective pharmacovigilance. Methods: Sixty-three terms pertaining to pharmacovigilance in Brazil and ANVISA, global institutions, pharmaceutical industry, and civil society were searched in thirteen relevant databases on November 17-18, 2013. Using a pharmacogovernance framework we analyzed ANVISA's pharmacogovernance: the manner in which governing structures, policy instruments, and institutional authority are managed to promote societal interests for patient safety due to medication use. The integration of transnational policy ideas for regulatory governance into pharmacogovernance in Brazil was also investigated. Results: Brazil's policy, laws, and regulations support ANVISA's authority to ensure access to safe medicines and health products however ANVISA's broad mandate and gaps in pharmacogovernance account for regional disparities in monitoring and assessing drug safety. Gaps in pharmacogovernance include: equity and inclusiveness; stakeholder coordination; effectiveness and efficiency; responsiveness; and intelligence and information. Conclusions: Pharmacogovernance that addresses 1) regional resource disparities, 2) federal and state lack of coordination of pharmacovigilance regulations, 3) asymmetric representation in the pharmaceutical regulatory agenda and which 4) disaggregates regulatory authority over health and commercial sectors would strengthen pharmacovigilance in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an update on environmental management in Latin America as of September 2001. Budget allocated by the United States government on its Everglades restoration project; Rise in imported hazardous waste into Canada between 1998 and 1999; Worth of Brazil's natural resources.

The article provides information related to the political transition in Brazil. The transition in Brazil has been similar to Spain, while at the same time retaining control of the timetable and extent of the political opening. The transition is the longest in process. The authoritarian regime in Brazil has been more institutionalized and less personalized than regime in other South American countries, like Argentina and Chile. On the other hand, the governmental system in Brazil is of a presidential rather than parliamentary format.