Brasília for Tourists

Brasília is not as human unfriendly as it looks for the first time visitor. I guess that the best thing to do is to take a walk on its Superquadras, like SQS 308, and feel how it is to live here. The main tourist attractions are just there: Congresso Nacional, Palácio Itamaraty, Catedral and so on... Catetinho, the temporary home of the president during the construction of the capital, is far from the center and holds a small exhibition about the city. Interesting, but it appeals only to the Architecture/Brazilian history fans. Skip it if you do not have time to spare.

Brasília is not a place for foodies, but here is my list of restaurants

• Ethnic or International: Despite all the embassies, the demographics is pretty homogeneous, so ethnic and international restaurants - in general - should be avoided. Palace Long Fu(Chinese) at Academia de Tênis is OK. Pretty much the same thing that you can find at an average restaurant in China. Servus is an Austrian restaurant in the countryside. The restaurant, almost hidden, is located about 40 minute away from the center of Brasilia near Tororó Falls. The owner speaks English and can give instructions. Opens on Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations are strongly recommended (Phone 3339-6180).

• Brazilian Barbecue: Porcão and Fogo de Chão. The branches in Brasília offer the same top quality as everywhere else.
• Regional (Northeast) food : Mangai is the one that everybody knows and recommends. It is pretty good, but my choice is Macambira (SCRLN 714 bloco F loja 22). The place is tiny, not well located and opens just for lunch. It is not as good as Mocotó (in São Paulo), but the idea is quite the same.Tia Zélia, Lula's favourite (people say), is just fine (Opens for lunch on Mondays to Fridays).
  
• I've never been to Aquavit (Scandinavian). The prices are comparable to two-star restaurants in France. I will wait for the next Brazilian currency crisis to visit the place.:-)
• Places to avoid: Beirute for its bad food, and Zuu , overpriced.

"Development Strategy or Endogenous Process? The Industrialization of Latin America" by Stephen Haber

Latin American industrialization was not a deliberate choice of the elites, or a long term strategy of development.
"Beginning in the 1890s the largest economies of Latin America conducted a 100- year experiment in which they built tremendous manufacturing sectors behind barriers to trade. This experiment was not carried out because public officials were ideologically committed to industrialization or because of economic theories that challenged free trade. Indeed, the growth of large scale manufacturing industry pre-dated structuralist theories by 60 years. Rather, Latin America’s industrialization was kick started by an endogenous process of economic development whose roots were found in the growth of the so-called export economy. Once industrialists got a foothold they lost no time in seeking tariff protection. Governments granted this protection because it came at virtually no political cost: the one class that stood to lose from trade protection, consumers, had no political voice. The result was that by 1914 all of the larger countries of Latin America had become increasingly protectionist, and were undergoing a rapid process of industrial growth.
(...)
The process of Latin American industrial development was always ad hoc. Governments did not grant trade protection because they were committed to a particular vision of industrial development. They did it because they were rewarding politically powerful constituents, some of whom were industrialists and some of whom The process of Latin American industrial development was always ad hoc. Governments did not grant trade protection because they were committed to a particular vision of industrial development. They did it because they were rewarding politically powerful constituents, some of whom were industrialists and some of whom were industrial unions."
This is music to my ears!

Aelita: the Queen of Mars (1924) or Chavez was (almost) right

In fact, Socialism saved the Martian civilization! The DVD says:

Russia's first big budget science fiction spectacular. "Aelita, the Queen of Mars" is a fantastic adventure about Los, an engineer living in Moscow who dreams of Aelita and builds a spaceship to take him to her. They fall in love, but Los soon finds himself embroiled in a proletarian uprising to establish a Martian Union of Soviet Socialist Republics!

Youtube has the movie in 9 parts.

The flood in South Saint Lawrence (Brazil)

Even worse than having your hometown destroyed by a flood is having your city destroyed by a flood while everybody is looking to the other side of the world. This is what happened to my former student and friend Martin Brauch and his São Lourenço do Sul, in southern Brazil.

He has created a website for those willing to help.

Happy Economics Day!

The Wealth of the Nations was published on 03/09/1776.
(Hopefully, there will be the day when a Google doodle will celebrate this day!)