Economics Development Commentary

In the case of Brazil the country is choosing one industry in particular to concentrate on its exports. As the price of oil rises and with increasing concerns over the world's climate, there is a constant search for alternative sources of energy. Brazil is the major producer of a great substitute (an alternative product) for oil known as ethanol. Among other things Brazil is the worlds largest exporter of sugar. Brazil produces its ethanol out of sugar, and it is the largest producer and exporter of ethanol worldwide. Because of rising demand of alternative fuels Brazil plans to double its ethanol production in the next decade. Brazil hopes that just as so many countries in the 20th centaury boosted of oil for development it would be able to do the same by exporting ethanol.

Another thing that has to be considered is the advantage of fuel production over agriculture production. Brazil's economy has enjoyed great growth as it climbed to the number one exporter of agriculture. However the economy has not developed that much and the average standard of living has remind very low, especially for such a big economy. So why has Brazil's enormous growth in exports not resulted in development? The reason is most likely that the growth was a result of increased exports of agricultural goods which are both price and income inelastic.

Price Elasticity of Demand

Income elasticity of demand measures the change in quantity demanded in relation to the change in income of the consumers, while price elasticity of demand measures the change of quantity demanded in relation to the change in the price of the product. When a product is income and price inelastic (as shown in the graph above) it means that the change in income of the consumers and the change in the price of the product has almost no affect on the quantity demand of the product. Since this is the case of agricultural products it could be the reason why Brazil has not enjoyed development with its massive growth. The inelasticity of these products makes the profit margin very low, which basically means that it is very hard to make profit of agricultural products. While the Brazilian economy experienced great growth from the increased exports of agriculture the profit was very low, and without profit the country did not have any extra money to address common underdevelopment problems such as poverty and inequality, so while the economy did grow it did not develop into the great superpower economy it can and should be.

        Meanwhile the Brazilian government's decision to concentrate its future exports on ethanol can be the solution to its lack of development over the years. The key is that fuel unlike agriculture is income elastic meaning that it changes with close relation to the income of the consumers, and it is also price inelastic.These two facts make the profit margin of fuel much greater. If its income elastic than it means that the potential of the quantity demanded is much greater, and if Brazil is selling to the worldwide market than it will enjoy that potential because over the world there are many people with high incomes who consume a lot of fuel. Also since fuel is relatively price inelastic the price can be very high and people will still consume it. With the continuous rising of price and demand of energy sources ethanol can be very profitable, with that profit Brazil might finally have some money to invest in development and perhaps become the economic superpower it should be.