THE ACCESSION TO THE OECD: “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?”

Abstract

The Brazilian candidacy to become a member of OECD generates a series of questions about the implications of this process for the Brazilian economy and the country’s strategy for economic integration. Those who support the accession to OECD argue that this will help with the adoption of best practices in terms of governance and regulatory policies. The expectation is that the accession will promote trade liberalization, attract foreign direct investment and have a positive impact on productivity. This paper argues that even though the accession may have net positive impacts for Brazil, one should not underestimate the difficulties of the process, nor overestimate the potential for structural transformation associated with OECD accession.

Keywords

• oecd
• accession process
• trade liberalization
• brazilian trade policy