Tariffs and the Textile Trade between Brazil and Britain (1808-1860) - Thales A. Zamberlan Pereira

Um importante estudo de história econômica que desmonta parcialmente aquelas teses "bonitas", mas carentes de comprovação empírica, sobre a não industrialização do Brasil, no século XIX, por causa dos tratados desiguais, da "tarifa inglesa" ou por falta de protecionismo adequado, por parte de um dos melhores historiadores econômicos da atualidade.

Paulo Roberto de Almeida

 Tariffs and the Textile Trade between Brazil and Britain (1808-1860) 

Thales A. Zamberlan Pereira 

FGV – EESP 

thales.pereira@fgv.br 

draft: October 2020 

Abstract 

The commercial treaty with Britain in 1810, along the authorization of foreign trade in ports in 1808, are among the most important institutional changes in nineteenth century Brazil. The 1810 treaty lowered tariffs for British manufactures while maintaining high tariffs in Britain for Brazilian sugar and coffee. These terms are generally viewed as disastrous for the Brazilian economy, although there is still limited quantitative information about how much the tariff affected the demand for British imports. This paper provides new qualitative and quantitative evidence on the operation and effect of Brazil’s imports tariffs in the period. I find that the effect of the tariffs is significantly different from what traditional literature assumes. First, the monetary instability in the 1820s and conflicts over product price assessment often led the de facto tariff to be higher than the 15% es-tablished by the treaty. Second, even with higher rates, quantitative analysis shows they did not have decrease imports of British textiles. 

Acesso: 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/knzwi7npvreliz3/Pereira%20-%20Brazil%20Import%20Tariffs%20revisado.pdf?dl=0

1. Introduction 

In 1843, during the final days of the commercial treaty initiated in 1810, an article in the first issue of the newspaper The Economist criticized the preferential treatment given to Britain in exchange for a “liberal” commercial policy from Brazil. Brazil’s main export products paid significantly higher duties compared to the British colonies. Sugar paid duties 150 percent higher and coffee 100 percent higher (The Economist 1843, 4). [The Economist. 1843. “Expiring Commercial Treaty with the Brazils,” September 2, 1843, 1 edition. www.economist.com/node/2002191]  Only cotton had a moderate tariff, being similar to the imposed on the United States. The commercial treaty of 1810, which was initially an agreement with Portugal, continued after Brazil’s independence in 1822. Brazilian officials renewed the treaty in 1827. British imports had an official nominal tariff rate of 15 percent between 1810 and 1843, which is considered a low tariff compared to other countries Brazil traded with at the time. Thus, even the British foreign secretary George Canning argued, in 1826, that the commercial treaty was advantageous to Britain and “more onerous to Brazil.” 

The obvious imbalance of privileges between Brazil and Britain has led the 1810 treaty to be largely condemned by Brazilian historiography (Manchester 1964, 92; Prado Jr. 1972; Pantaleão 2003, 95; Wilcken 2005, 155). Historians such as Alan Manchester, among others, characterized the lower tariff for British manufactures as a “permanent” source of commercial losses to Brazil (Ricupero 2007, 46). Moreover, the sudden increase in the imports of British textiles during the 1810s led to the view that the treaties prevented the development of local manufactures, blocking Brazil’s path to modern economic growth (Luz 1975, 23; Pryor 1965, 99). Stanley Stein argued that the beginning of the textile industry in Brazil was only possible due to the higher import tariffs after 1844 (Stein 1979, 28). Despite not blaming the commercial treaties for Brazil’s failure to industrialize, Celso Furtado argued that a 15 percent tariff “limited the autonomy of the Brazilian government in the economic sector” (Furtado 2006, 71, 143–44). 

Even though there is a longstanding view on the negative consequences of the commercial treaties, there is still limited quantitative information on how tariffs affected Brazilian imports (especially textiles) during the first half of the nineteenth century. The main source of foreign trade in Brazil during the nineteenth century – government statistical yearbooks – provides only aggregate data after 1821. There are no statistics for different countries and products before the 1840s (IBGE 1939; Lago 1982). Even critics of the view that Brazil was an “informal British colony,” such as Stephen Haber and Herbert Klein, based their arguments on the same official sources (Haber and Klein 1997). Some studies that use British sources, on the other hand, do not correct for the well-known problem of outdated prices in the ledgers of imports and exports and overestimate the trade imbalance between Britain and Brazil (Arruda 2008; Imlah 1948). 

By using archival evidence from the British Foreign Office, the Board of Trade, and price information from newspapers, this paper provides new information about how tariffs worked in Brazil after 1810 and discusses how imports of cotton textiles responded to changes in taxation. It extends the work of Arthur Pryor (1965) on the evolution of Brazil’s tariff policy, providing evi-dence that the effective tariff rate in Brazil was sometimes higher than that established by the trade treaties with Britain. The higher average tariff occurred in two ways. First, the Brazilian govern-ment sometimes attempted to increase revenue by overvaluing British products at customhouses, which increased the de facto tariff rate. The government overvalued British products by taxing imported products at official prices from a book of rates, which was called pauta. The use of official values for assessing imports is known in the literature, but it has been largely ignored in the debate over the effects of trade treaties (Lima 1908, 399). Second, that the tariff departed from the 15% established by the treaty because of monetary instability that occurred during the late 1820s. As prices on the book of rates were not often adjusted, sudden changes in the exchange rate had a significant impact on the average tariff level. 

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Marcelo de Paiva Abreu: Brasil: patrimonialismo e autarquia, livros de ensaios de história econômica, 2o. volume

 Na sequência da postagem anterior, as mesma informações para esta obra excepcional na historiografia econômica brasileira, por um dos maiores, senão o maior historiador econômico do Brasil, completando  a informação relativa aos dois volumes. Primeiro a ficha catalográfica do 2o. volume, pois o ISBN é específico a cada volume: 

Agora a capa e sumário e apresentação do segundo volume, finalizando pela contracapa. 

Marcelo de Paiva Abreu: Brasil: patrimonialismo e autarquia, livros de ensaios de história econômica, 1o. volume

Acabo de receber um presente excepcional do autor: os melhores ensaios de história econômica do economista historiador (ou historiador econômico, ele escolhe), Marcelo de Paiva Abreu, professor na PUC-Rio, reunidos pelo autor, traduzidos em Português, aqueles originalmente publicados em Inglês, e enfim divulgados ao público brasileiro. Durante anos andei à cata de todos esses artigos, dispersos numa dúzia ou mais de publicações diversas, agora finalmente compilados nos dois volumes que apresentarei aqui, nos jpgs abaixo.

Primeiro a ficha catalográfica, para os que desejarem adquirir imediatamente: 

Agora, nesta primeira postagem, a capa do primeiro volume, ilustrada, tanto quanto a contracapa, in fine, e as mesmas ilustrações para o segundo volume, com documentos da época (títulos da dívida e outros), depois o índice e a apresentação deste primeiro volume, que permitem conhecer exatamente o conteúdo, as datas e locais de publicações originais e outras informações pertinentes. Em postagem subsequente, colocarei os mesmos arquivos relativos ao segundo volume.

Vou poder agora, finalmente, terminar meu segundo volume da história da diplomacia econômica do Brasil, na década final do século XIX e na primeira metade do século XX, pois tendo já coletado material do Arquivo Histórico Diplomático do Itamaraty no Rio de Janeiro, faltavam-me alguns dados primários que se encontram dispersos em diferentes fontes e bases de dados historiográficas, e que agora passam a estar reunidas nestes dois volumes de utilíssimas compilações. 

 

Seminário de Economia Política e História Econômica - EESP - FGV-SP

Escola de Economia de São Paulo - FGV-SP

SEMINÁRIO DE ECONOMIA POLÍTICA E HISTÓRIA ECONÔMICA

https://eesp.fgv.br/noticia/seminario-de-economia-politica-e-historia-economica-1

O Seminário de Economia Política e História Econômica é um espaço de interação entre pesquisadores que trabalham com estudos interdisciplinares em economia, ciências sociais e humanidades. O seminário é organizado por professores da Escola de Economia de São Paulo, FGV, a maior parte dos quais são ligados ao Centro de Política e Economia do Setor Público e ao Centro de Estudos do Atlântico Sul. O seminário ocorrerá toda última quinta-feira de cada mês, às 16:00, com alguns encontros adicionais na segunda semana do mês. Durante o segundo semestre de 2020, o seminário ocorrerá online via Zoom. Cada apresentação será de até 40 minutos, sem interrupções, seguidos por mais 40 minutos de discussão.

The Political Economy and Economic History Seminar fosters the interaction among researchers who work with interdisciplinary studies on economics, social science and humanities. The Seminar is organised by professors at the São Paulo School of Economics, FGV, most of whom are connected with the Centre of Politics and Economics of the Public Sector and the Centre of South Atlantic Studies. The Seminar will be held on every last Thursday of the month at 4 pm, São Paulo time, with some possible extra dates on the second week of the month. During the second half of 2020, the Seminar will happen on Zoom. Each presentation will last up to 40 minutes, followed by an extra 40 minutes session for questions and answers.

Organizadores: 

Fernanda Estevan, Fernando Limongi, George Avelino, Luiz Felipe de Alencastro, Leonardo Weller, Marcos Nakaguma, Thales Pereira

Cronograma 2020.2

30 de julho

Nuno Palma (Manchester)

“The Vagaries of the Sea: Evidence on the Real Effect of Money from Maritime Disasters in the Spanish Empire” 

27 de agosto

Scott Desposato (San Diego)

"Campaign Tone and Content in Latin America"

10 de setembro

Guilherme Lanbais (UNB)

“Judicial Subversion: The Effects of Political Power on Court Outcomes”

24 de setembro

Natalia Bueno (Emory)

“There is No Place Like Home: A Study of Slum Housing Improvement in Brazil” 

29 de outubro

Leticia Abad (CUNY)

“The Fruits of El Dorado: The Global Impact of American Precious Metals”

26 de novembro

Andrea Papadia (Bonn)

tbc

Fonte: 

FGV EESP

Data da publicação: 

17/07/2020

Capitalism, alone: a new book by Branko Milanovic

Capitalism, Alone: The Future of the System That Rules the World 

Hardcover – 24 September 2019

by Branko Milanovic (Author)

A provocative account of capitalism's rise to global dominance and, as different models of capitalism vie for world leadership, a look into what the future may hold. We are all capitalists now. For the first time in human history, the globe is dominated by one economic system. In Capitalism, Alone, leading economist Branko Milanovic explains the reasons for this decisive historical shift since the days of feudalism and, later, communism. Surveying the varieties of capitalism, he asks: What are the prospects for a fairer world now that capitalism is the only game in town? His conclusions are sobering, but not fatalistic. Capitalism gets much wrong, but also much right-and it is not going anywhere. Our task is to improve it. Milanovic argues that capitalism has triumphed because it works. It delivers prosperity and gratifies human desires for autonomy. But it comes with a moral price, pushing us to treat material success as the ultimate goal. And it offers no guarantee of stability. In the West, liberal capitalism creaks under the strains of inequality and capitalist excess. That model now fights for hearts and minds with political capitalism, exemplified by China, which many claim is more efficient, but which is more vulnerable to corruption and, when growth is slow, social unrest. As for the economic problems of the Global South, Milanovic offers a creative, if controversial, plan for large-scale migration. Looking to the future, he dismisses prophets who proclaim some single outcome to be inevitable, whether worldwide prosperity or robot-driven mass unemployment. Capitalism is a risky system. But it is a human system. Our choices, and how clearly we see them, will determine how it serves us.

Product details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (24 September 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674987594
• ISBN-13: 978-0674987593
• Product Dimensions:: 15.5 x 2.5 x 23.6 cm
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Review: 
An ambitious and provocative examination of the present and the future of capitalism. It is a valuable, data-rich, and thoughtful addition to several recent books examining the challenges facing this economic system...Milanovic says that while capitalism cannot be replaced--at least in the foreseeable future--it can be improved.-- (03/01/2020) The conceptions of political and liberal meritocratic capitalism prove to be both novel and compelling...Milanovic's proposition is valuable as framework for understanding the future of political capitalism, within China and beyond.--Panthea Pourmalek"Journal of East Asian Studies" (03/01/2020) Milanovic's method is eclectic and empirical, informed by Marxist concepts but not limited to them.--Max B. Sawlicky"Jacobin" (01/16/2020) A gift to those of us grappling with economic and political inequality, as we seek ways to promote a fairer and more productive, sustainable society.--Tim Page"Trades Union Congress (TUC) blog" (10/25/2019) A scholar of inequality warns that while capitalism may have seen off rival economic systems, the survival of liberal democracies is anything but assured. The amoral pursuit of profit in more liberal capitalist societies has eroded the ethical norms that help sustain openness and democracy, he argues; now that tendency threatens to push such places in the direction of more authoritarian capitalist societies, such as China.-- (12/07/2019) An excellent new book on the past, present, and future of economic systems.--Umair Javed"Dawn" (12/02/2019) An extraordinarily valuable book for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of current topics in economic research and their bearing on policy debates.--Matt Mazewski"Commonweal" (12/05/2019) [The] first three chapters are brilliant, original and make for gripping reading...Relish the erudition and panache.--Duncan Green"From Poverty to Power" (11/15/2019) A data-rich, provocative account of where capitalism is today and where it may be headed.--Samuel Hammond"Quillette" (10/24/2019) Branko Milanovic, the master narrator of global equality, brings an entirely new perspective to the topic in this remarkably astute book. By tracing the deep and evolving ideological foundations of capitalism and communism and analyzing the rise of Asia and particularly China, he contributes thought-provoking insights on the critical role of institutions and ideology for the long-term prospects of global economies.--Debin Ma, London School of Economics and Political Science Leaves little doubt that the social contract no longer holds. Whether you live in Beijing or New York, the time for renegotiation is approaching.-- (10/09/2019) May turn out to be a seminal work on the fin de siecle de capitalisme...His conclusions and concepts, make extraordinary contributions to considerations of the state of capitalism.--Business Day (10/01/2019) Milanovic gives an impressive amount of space and effort in his book to provide a thorough analysis of the role of corruption in globalization...What I have always most valued about Branko Milanovic is his willingness to follow his intuition to open up new aspects of the political discussion. I may not agree with him on some issues, but I always come away greatly enriched by the experience.-- (09/23/2019) Milanovic outlines a taxonomy of capitalisms and traces their evolution from classical capitalism before 1914, through the social-democratic capitalism of the mid-20th century, to 'liberal meritocratic capitalism' in much of the rich world, in particular America. He contrasts this with the 'political capitalism' found in many emerging countries, with China as the exemplar. These two capitalistic forms now dominate the global landscape. Their co-evolution will shape world history for decades to come.-- (10/31/2019) Milanovic has written what may be his most ambitious book yet. Featuring his trademark clarity and erudition, Capitalism, Alone contains wide-ranging and thoughtful insights into the nature of capitalism as it is currently structured and considers how it will evolve in the coming century.--Arjun Jayadev, Azim Premji University Branko Milanovic, a master economic statistician, here divides modern capitalism broadly into two versions: the 'liberal' one found in the West, and the 'political' one that has emerged in China. In this searching and richly argued work he weighs the choices we face and discusses whether the future may lie with one version, alone.--James K. Galbraith, author of The End of Normal A remarkable book, possibly the author's most comprehensive opus so far...I highly recommend Capitalism, Alone to all readers and scholars interested in challenging their understanding of the (supposed) sole socio-economic system we live in.--Roberto Iacono"LSE Review of Books" (11/11/2019) A brilliant sequel to the pathbreaking Global Inequality. Drawing on original research and a typically wide sweep of history, Branko Milanovic poses all the important questions about our future.--Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Capitalism, Alone is an excellent work that covers a broad swath of the history of modern capitalism.--Edward Wolff, author of A Century of Wealth in America When politicians, pundits, and academics speak of a growing competition, or even a New Cold War, between the United States and China, one thing that is not asked enough is what is being competed for. Likewise, when we speak of an 'American' or 'Western' model, in contrast to a 'Chinese' one, it is worth asking what or who exactly is being modeled, and to what end. One of the virtues of Branko Milanovic's new book, Capitalism, Alone, is that it addresses these questions head-on and with useful insights and results.-- (11/18/2019) Milanovic writes as a good teacher, telling us what is coming, sharing the content, and then reminding us what we just learned. He takes the reader on diverting side journeys into the history of communism, the implausibility of a universal basic income, and even a brief summary from first principles of the past development and possible trajectories of Western liberal capitalism. The effect can be both exhilarating and overwhelming...Capitalism, Alone is a book to scribble questions all over, and then read again.-- (01/07/2020) Few economists can compete with [Milanovic's] stunning erudition, or with his skill in weaving together seemingly disparate figures with complex philosophical ideas to produce a coherent thesis that feels highly relevant to our troubled times. Capitalism, Alone is one of the most ambitious economics books published this year, in terms of its breadth and scope, and definitely one of the most fascinating.-- (12/20/2019) Countries with larger tax cuts experienced bigger increases in inequality... [The consequences] are richly detailed in Capitalism, Alone... Builds on Milanovic's previous book, Global Inequality... Ideally the two should be read together... [Milanovic] belongs to a new generation of data-driven economists who have helped track what has happened to income distribution in recent years.--Liaquat Ahamed"New Yorker" (09/02/2019) Attempts to make sense of the new world order and what could come of it. For that, it deserves to be read...An interesting and important read about the state of capitalism today and the directions it may take in the future. Milanovic's history of focusing on economic data--rather than simplistic theory--and his healthy skepticism of meritocratic capitalism ensure that Capitalism, Alone will inform and provoke readers.-- (11/15/2019) Milanovic's greatest contributions in Capitalism, Alone come from his fresh approach to the history of different capitalist countries. His taxonomy of Western countries evolving from classical, social-democratic, and now liberal-meritocratic capitalism helps us put the current state of affairs into better context and think about the ways policy can and cannot improve the system...His analysis of the forces and magnitudes of different kinds of inequality give a more nuanced story than is often found in public discussions.-- (12/30/2019)