Individually, all these reforms are important. Taken together they gain critical mass, and add up to an economy with the underlying strength to weather international turbulence. The Way Forward All over the world, countries face the challenge of modernizing and adapting. This is true for rich and poor nations, North and South, large and small. In Brazil's case, the task is that much greater because today is dealing with problems that have been neglected for many decades.
Income distribution is still extremely unfair, and many millions live in poverty.
Health and education need major improvement, despite the progress made in recent years. Working together, the government and Congress have made some important changes to the INSS state pensions scheme, which serves the private sector. More reforms are under discussion to attack the deficit on public sector pensions. There's a growing consensus that privileges must be eliminated or at least to be made on social issues. Also in the pipeline are fiscal and judicial reforms.