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Friday, February 3, 2017

Brazil and Singapore. Ethos is very important.

Brazil and Singapore. Some counterfactually data.



Currently, when compared to the many indices that academic or business organizations present each year to measure country performance (competitiveness, innovation, education, and others) Singapore always appears in the top 10 places while Brazil occupies positions over the number 60. A curious detail: Singapore never appears on conventional maps because it is so small that to be seen, the maps should be the size of the Wailing Wall (Jerusalem). Brazil is a giant 12,000 times bigger and is visible from space.



Let's look at some facts: The Global Competitiveness Index, developed and published annually since 1979 by the World Economic Forum, shows in the report of 2015-2016 to Switzerland in the number 1 position, Singapore the 2 position. Brazil is in 57th position. The competitiveness index measures the ability of countries to provide high levels of prosperity to their citizens. This ability depends on how a country uses its available resources. As a result, the index measures a set of institutions, policies and factors that define the levels of sustainable economic prosperity today and in the medium term.

In the Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2017 (published by INSEAD, Adecco) the locations are: Switzerland (1), Singapore (2) Brazil (81). In the Human Development Index (UN-UNDP) the locations are: Norway (1), Singapore (11), Brazil (75).

The Innovation Index 2015 (INSEAD, Cornell University, WIPO) includes Switzerland (1), Singapore (7), Brazil (70). Singapore is overtaken by USA, UK, Finland, Sweden for obvious reasons.



Does this mean that everything in Brazil is bad or mediocre? No, there are islands of excellence that unfortunately are surpassed by the immense political and business mass that seeks the easy and sinuous way to fulfill their vicious ends. The universities of Brazil are the best in Latin America, the academic quality is respectable, there are important companies. But it's not enough.

Was the situation always bad in Brazil? At what point did the course go? Juscelino Kubischeck), president between 1955 and 1961, proposed to overtake the country in 50 years, so began with a daring and visionary decision, the creation of Brasilia as a new capital. The work of Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer show us this great vision. In 1961, astronaut Yuri Gagarin who visited Brasilia said: "I have the feeling of landing on a different planet, not on earth" (El Comercio, April 21, 2010, Houses: 6).


With Kubischeck, everything, the vision, the dream and the ambition to be a great country ended. Today Brazil is just a gigantic territory, nothing more; A clumsy giant who falls and drags others with him. With Kubischeck, the will of greatness, the ambition, was over.

By contrast, Lee Kuan Yen had the clear vision from the beginning. At the same time that Kubischeck projected 50 years onwards, having everything at hand (a large territory, resources, a large population) Kuan Yew also projected, with nothing (practically with one hand behind and another forward). The difference is that he had the support of a people who shared their shortcomings and desires, their fears and ambitions, and that they had to choose between winning or dying. That took Singapore to where it is now.



What does Singapore have? I only mention some decisive factors. Leadership, the communion of the people with the leader, the intentionality. Lee Kuan Yew left for eternity in 2015, although he left the government before, but the successors did not dedicate themselves to distribute the loot, continue with his legacy, the new generations maintain the vision and spirit of greatness.



The following chart shows some current facts referring to Singapore and Brazil. In the vertical axis the general conditions that are expressed in indicators are represented; It is appreciated that Singapore is always above and that since 2000 Brazil has stagnated or declined notoriously.



Drawing on the imagination, let's look at some counterfactual details: What would have happened if Lee Kuan Yew, continuing Kubischeck's vision, would have been the leader of Brazil and the people would have shared their mission, and would have been willing to follow the rules, fleeting present for the future? The result would have been very impressive perhaps and Brazil would be one of the five world powers. If Kuan Yew had been alone, he would have given the same name as Joao, Pele, Kaka or Zeze, and the country would have always been on the path of mediocrity.



In the opposite case and only after 1980, what would have happened, if Singapore fell into the hands of the groups that now govern Brazil? It would have disappeared from the map, they would have seen the first bidder and Singapore would again be the brothel, the brothel passing through those distant seas, as it was before Kuan Yew became indignant and decided to create a respectable society.



We must thank God because Singapore now exists, because it serves as a model for countries like Peru, who have everything but do not dare to make the leap, not the step, the leap to be great (and without using the false door as it is intends to join the OECD).