The 1990s represented for the Brazilian economy a period of quite significant change. New international conditions and changes in the traditional way of economic policymaking have led to an unprecedented economic environment, with low inflation rates, broader access to imported goods and reduced interference from the State. A number of modifications in the conditions faced by the productive sector have taken place, but several shortcomings - mainly in the social area - still remain. This book presents the major aspects of that process in a systematic way.