This book assesses the performance of the first Lula government (2002-06) from different perspectives including economics, politics, history and social policy. While the focus is on Brazil, it also refers to the experiences of similar countries both for comparative purposes and for evidence of the success or otherwise of this 'new' era for Brazil.

Introduction; P.Arestis & A.Saad-Filho Neoliberalism, Democracy and Economic Policy in Brazil; A.Saad-Filho Lula's Government in Brazil: A New Left or the Old Populism?; F.J.C.de Carvalho The Real Meaning of the Economic Policy of Lula's Government; L.M.Paulani Economic Constraints to a Sustained Growth for the Brazilian Economy; L.F.de Paula The Twilight of Lula's Government; F.Ferrari-Filho & F.C.de Carvalho Assessing Brazil's Economic Performance: 2003-2005; J.Sicsú Inflation Targeting in Brazil; P.Arestis, L.F.de Paula & F.Ferrari-Filho Brazilian Domestic Public Debt in 2003-05: Resisting Decline and Potential Threat of Loss of Control; C.E.Carvalho An Empirical Study of Brazilian Bond Auctions, 2002-2004; R.Sobreira & P.Gaya Fiscal Policy, Credit Availability and Financing of Regional Policies in Brazil; F.G.Jayme & M.Crocco

ALVARO ANGERIZ University of Cambridge, UK TIRTHANKAR CHAKRAVARTY University of Cambridge, UK MARCO CROCCO Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Center for Regional Development and Planning (CEDEPLAR) UFMG; Researcher, CNPq FERNANDO J. CARDIM DE CARVALHO Professor of Economics, Institute of Economics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil LUIZ FERNANDO DE PAULA University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; CNPq FERNANDO FERRARI FILHO Full Professor of Economics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Researcher, CNPq PAULO GAYA Master in Public Administration, Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration (EBAPE/FGV), Brazil; Brazilian Central Bank, Brazil FREDERICO G. JAYME JR Associate Professor, Department of Economics and Center for Regional Development and Planning (CEDEPLAR), UFMG; Researcher; CNPq LECIO MORAIS Camara dos Deputados, Brasilia - DF, Brazil ALCINO FERREIRA CA MARA NETO Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil LEDA MARIA PAULANI Economics Department, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil JOA O SICSA' Associate Professor, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ROGAeRIO SOBREIRA Associate Professor of Economics and Finance, Brazilian School of Public and Business Administration, Getulio Vargas Foundation (EBAPE/FGV), Brazil; Member, Money and Financial Markets Study Group, Institute of Economics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IE-UFRJ), Brazil; Researcher, Pronex (FAPERJ/MCT) MATAiAS VERNENGO University of Utah, USA CARLOS VIDOTTO Associate Professor, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil