Brazil's Emerging Economic Power: Now Investment-Grade and Why it Matters

On April 30, 2008, Standard & Poor's became the first ratings agency to raise Brazil's foreign debt to investment-grade status. This unprecedented decision, coupled with the discovery of massive new oil and gas reserves, boosts Brazil's prospects for continued, long-term economic and political stability. Some analysts predict new foreign investment may reach $1 trillion over the next decade. 

At Wilson Center on the Hill's event on Friday, June 20, 2008 on Brazil's Emerging Economic Power: Now Investment-Grade and Why it Matters, panelists discussed the significance of the ratings upgrade and the implications of Brazil's regional and global emergence for U.S. interests in the Americas. This event featured Lisa Schineller, Director of Sovereign Ratings, Standard & Poor's, Nancy Lee, Visiting Fellow, Center for Global Development and Otaviano Canuto, Vice President for Countries, Inter-American Development Bank.