The paper examines some aspects of the monetary controversies which took place in several countries during the nineteenth century. In Brazil, advocates of the gold standard and monetary restraint, known as "metalistas", prevailed over "papelistas", whose major desire was monetary expansion and credit creation. It is argued that previous treatments of monetary debates in nineteenth-century Brazil have overlooked a crucial point, namely, the defence of convertibility of the "mil-reis". This has led to erroneous interpretations of the ideology underlying monetary management in the period. (Rev Econ Polit/DÜI)
This work uses the Mariana mining disaster (2015) as a trigger case to analyze how corporations are legally perceived in the context of disasters, specifically, tailings dam failures. The legal personality of corporations carries the mystery of being similar to a natural person judicially at the same time that are completely different from a human person when analyzed outside of the legal realm. Under that puzzle, the corporate legal personality nature was analyzed before the hegemonic theories of Brazilian legal scholars, revealing their insufficiencies to approach the Mariana Mining Disaster. Subsequently, an alternative approach is assessed through the studies of Evguieni Pashukanis and some recent authors that endorse his main ideas. Pashukanis reveals potentialities and limits that led to a proper elaboration of the corporate legal personhood concept and its internal dynamics in two steps. Firstly, revisiting the capital fetishism and the valueform theories, which led to a better understanding of the most developed and fetishized forms of capital, the interest bearing capital, as well as the contradictory developments between the capital and productive circuits. Secondly, revisiting the historic construction of the corporate form and its legal features in both USA and United Kingdom, in order to perceive the ascension of the corporate legal personality concept. Finally, some the corporate legal personhood concept characteristics and dynamics are proposed.
This work uses the Mariana mining disaster (2015) as a trigger case to analyze how corporations are legally perceived in the context of disasters, specifically, tailings dam failures. The legal personality of corporations carries the mystery of being similar to a natural person judicially at the same time that are completely different from a human person when analyzed outside of the legal realm. Under that puzzle, the corporate legal personality nature was analyzed before the hegemonic theories of Brazilian legal scholars, revealing their insufficiencies to approach the Mariana Mining Disaster. Subsequently, an alternative approach is assessed through the studies of Evguieni Pashukanis and some recent authors that endorse his main ideas. Pashukanis reveals potentialities and limits that led to a proper elaboration of the corporate legal personhood concept and its internal dynamics in two steps. Firstly, revisiting the capital fetishism and the valueform theories, which led to a better understanding of the most developed and fetishized forms of capital, the interest bearing capital, as well as the contradictory developments between the capital and productive circuits. Secondly, revisiting the historic construction of the corporate form and its legal features in both USA and United Kingdom, in order to perceive the ascension of the corporate legal personality concept. Finally, some the corporate legal personhood concept characteristics and dynamics are proposed.
Na análise de conflitos socioambientais por mineração, vários trabalhos têm apontado as diversas causas que originam estes cenários de tensão sobretudo em comunidades locais. Contudo, um aspecto pouco abordado é a percepção dos riscos como causa de um conflito socioambiental. A partir dessa premissa, este trabalho discute teorias que abordam os riscos e o princípio da precaução com a teoria da justiça ambiental a fim de identificar os elementos comuns entre estas e suas implicações em conflitos que envolvem coletividades. A conexão analítica entre o princípio da precaução e a teoria da justiça ambiental permite advertir que, em alguns conflitos por mineração, além da rejeição aos riscos por possíveis efeitos poluentes, existem outras questões inter-relacionadas de conteúdo epistemológico, social, cultural, econômico e político que influenciam nos cenários de conflito. O trabalho mostra que estas inter-relações se expressam principalmente nas limitações intrínsecas do conhecimento científico para a avaliação de riscos e incertezas em projetos de mineração complexos e na disputa política que envolve avaliação e decisão sobre riscos que poderiam afetar bens incomensuráveis como o ambiente, a saúde humana e as formas de organização de diversas comunidades. ; In the analysis of socioenvironmental conflicts by mining, several studies have pointed out the various causes that give rise to these tension scenarios, especially in local communities. However, one aspect that is not addressed is the perception of risks as a socio-environmental conflict cause. Based on this premise, this work discuss the theories that approach the risks and precautionary principle with the theory of environmental justice in order to identify the common elements between both and their implications in the context of conflicts that involve collectivities. We argue that the analytical link between the precautionary principle and the environmental justice theory allows us to note that in some conflicts regarding mining, in addition to the rejection of risks due to possible polluting effects, there are other interrelated issues of epistemological, social, cultural, economic and political content that influence in conflict scenarios. The work shows that these interrelations are expressed mainly in the intrinsic limitations of scientific knowledge for the evaluation of risks and uncertainties in complex mining projects, and in the political dispute surrounding the evaluation and decision on risks that could affect incommensurable goods such as the environment, human health and the forms of organization of various communities.
In: Mathis , A & de Theije , M 2018 , Diagnóstico Socioeconômico e Ambiental da Mineração em Pequena Escala no Brasil. Relatório 3. Relatório Socioeconômico e Ambiental da Mineração em Pequena Escala , no. 1 , vol. 3 .
The META MPE Project "Socioeconomic and Environmental Diagnosis of Small-scale Mining in Brazil," is a comprehensive study of the SSM sector within the Brazilian context. Carried out on request from the Brazilian Ministry of Mining and Energy (MME), the study has as its objective to analyze the socioeconomic and environmental dynamics of SSM universe in Brazil and, from the evaluation of the sector's current conditions, to recommend public policy aiming at its organization and promotion. In this way, the diagnostic made by the Projekt-Consult/RCS Global Consortium has the purpose of providing information for strategic planning. This study was requested by MME from the acknowledgment that the array of existing information on SSM in Brazil had several constraints. Being exclusively based on data related to formalized operations, it does not reflect the practical reality of the sector in the country. Official statistics are incomplete, outdated to some extent, and scattered throughout various institutions within the Brazilian public administration. In order to bridge this gap, a survey was done to include – on top of documentation analysis, case studies in five regions selected to represent the universe of substances extracted by SSM in Brazil, viz. gold (Tapajós mining reserves, in Pará, and in the Peixoto valley, in Mato Grosso), clay (Santa Gertrudes ceramic hub, in São Paulo), gems and precious stones (Jequitinhonha and Mucuri valleys, in the Northeast of Minas Gerais), and construction aggregates (Recife metropolitan area, in Pernambuco). There was also done a comprehensive survey of the literature and documentation on the economic impact at local, regional, and national levels, as well as that related to SSM public policies. Upon overlaidand compared, the bibliographic analyses and the considerations on legislation and public policy for SSM, the case studies revealed the existence of behavioral and organizational standards in the SSM universes that brought up a fresh view of the sector. Qualitative data represents the analysis base for this socioeconomic and environmental report. It covers features that cannot be analyzed exclusively from quantitative data, such as the characteristics of the forms of organization, the social structure of mining communities, environmental impact and the connections between the SSM sector and the economic, governmental, and social sectors. The analysis included issues such as gender, labor relations and other variables, such as age, education level, professional autonomy, and migration. From the analysis of this data, the motivation of social players, in adopting particular lifestyles, and in choosing specific economic and environmental behaviors, become evident, as well as the stance of stakeholders in this area regarding the formalization process. Hence the report characterizes the SSM universe in Brazil in detail, by dealing with social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental issues. The five case study reports found in Volume II of Report 3 provide input for the final analysis of the domestic scenario of SSM. However, Volume I of Product 3 and each case study report making up Volume II can be read independently. There is a great variation in the forms of organization of MPE in Brazil. The role of the MPE sector in each locality is different in social, cultural and economic terms. The degree of inclusion in the economic system, in the legal system, and capital-labor relationships in the extraction process are all important variables. However, the people involved in the activity also share several important characteristics, even if there are differences in terms of the mineral substance extracted and the type of mining. The analysis of public policies shows that these do not always meet the needs of the sector. It can be concluded, for example, that the mineral extensionism initiative did not work as expected due to difficulties in coordination and cooperation between the agents involved. In addition, it is possible to infer that the mineral APL projects also did not materialize as foreseen for a different reason: the lack of capacity to create structures of mutual trust between the agents involved in the activity. Finally, the analysis of the socioeconomic dynamics of the SSM and of the public policies aimed at it, reveals the presence of governance mechanisms inherent to informality intrinsic to the studied universes. The results point to the existence of a self- sustaining cycle of informality, from a history of years of misinformation, conflicting policies and distrust of the players in the sector when it comes to government policies, associated with the complex process of formalization and the punitive approach of agents in charge of overseeing activities. The report presents, in its Chapter 9, some reflections on the challenges and possibilities for a more efficient SSM organization, and Chapter 10 shows the conclusions and proposals for developing public policies for this sector.
Analisamos como o significado é atribuído à responsabilidade social corporativa (RSC) por atores de mercado, governo e sociedade civil envolvidos na mineração agregada em São Paulo. O estudo se concentra nesse setor por ser uma atividade de impactos negativos notórios. Os interesses divergentes entre esses atores formaram um cenário bastante conturbado, no qual a RSC é apresentada como fundamental para reduzir os aspectos negativos e os conflitos entre os representantes da sociedade causados pela mineração. Pouca atenção tem sido dada na relação entre significados da formação de indivíduos em RSC e práticas de RSC no setor de mineração situado em uma área urbana nos países em desenvolvimento. Por meio de um estudo de caso qualitativo, foram realizadas 58 entrevistas com integrantes da sociedade civil, do Estado e do mercado. Análise de documentos e observação foram técnicas utilizadas como complementares às entrevistas. Os achados deste artigo revelaram três entendimentos sobre a RSC entre os grupos da sociedade estudados: voluntário, ambiental e social. Com base na relação entre esses entendimentos, percebemos um padrão na formação do processo de como os atores dão sentido ao termo. ; We analyze how meaning is attributed to corporate social responsibility (CSR) by the markets, government, and actors from the civil society involved in aggregate mining in São Paulo. CSR is presented as fundamental for reducing the negative aspects and conflicts between representatives of society caused by mining. Little attention has been paid to the relationship between how different CSR interpretations emerge from interactions between multiple actors in the mining sector. Through a qualitative case study, 58 interviews were conducted with people representing civil society, the state, and the market. Additionally, document analysis and observation techniques enriched our data set. The paper reveals three interpretations of CSR among the groups studied: voluntary, environmental, and social. Based on the relationship between these interpretations of CSR, we can see a pattern in how those involved build meaning.
The Golden Jubilee of FMUSP's 54th class (graduated in 1971) has the characteristic of rescuing the graduation ceremony that did not happen due to the political scenario of authoritarianism at the time. The homage to the great masters, not allowed to happen at the occasion, is the main focus of this manuscript, which also shows how we recognized their importance and were brave so as to not accept interference in our choices. ; O Jubileu de Ouro da 54a turma da FMUSP (formandos de 1971) tem a característica de resgatar a cerimônia de formatura que não ocorreu devido ao momento político de autoritarismo da época. A homenagem aos grandes mestres, que foi impedida na ocasião, é o principal destaque deste manuscrito, que revela também como soubemos reconhecê-los e como tivemos a coragem de não aceitar interferências em nossas escolhas.
O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para as discussões sobre o projeto desenvolvimentista e neoliberal pautado na criação de uma aerotrópolis no Vetor Norte da Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte em Minas Gerais- o Projeto Aerotrópole Mineira - e na manutenção das atividades minerárias em suas proximidades. Lógicas diferenciadas de acumulação de capital expressas num mesmo território protegido por legislação federal: a Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Carste de Lagoa Santa. Buscamos rastrear controvérsias entre os projetos aeroportuário e minerário e a legislação de conservação ambiental da região, apontando fissuras e caminhos de pesquisa. ; El objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a las discusiones sobre el proyecto desarrollista y neoliberal basado en la creación de una aerotrópolis en el Vector Norte de la Región Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte en Minas Gerais - el Proyecto Aerotrópole Mineira - y sobre el mantenimiento de la minería. actividades en sus alrededores. Lógica diferenciada de acumulación de capital expresada en un mismo territorio amparado por la legislación federal: el Área de Protección Ambiental (APA) Karst de Lagoa Santa. Buscamos rastrear controversias entre el aeropuerto y los proyectos mineros y la legislación de conservación ambiental en la región, señalando fisuras y caminos de investigación. ; The present work aims to contribute to the discussions about the developmentalist and neoliveral projects lined on the creation of an aerotropolis at the North Vector of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais - the Project Aerotropole Mineira - and the maintenance of minerary activities in its surroundings. Distinct logics of capital accumulation expressed at the same territory protected by federal law: the Environmental Protection Area (APA, in portuguese) Karst Lagoa Santa. We seek to track controversies between the mining and aeroportuary projects and the environment conservation legislation for the region, pointing fissures and possibilities of research.
This case study analyzes the corporate socioenvironmental report (CSR) of a Brazilian company to identify potential vulnerabilities of the practice of greenwashing. Based on consultation of the relevant literature obtained from the databases of the CAPES Periodical Portal, SPELL, and Google Scholar, it was possible to identify the assumptions for the occurrence of greenwashing, arranged in categories for analysis. The study is qualitative and exploratory in nature, employing reflexive thematic analysis of the company's disclosures and the information obtained from newspapers in light of the pertinent legislation. The results partially confirmed the hypotheses in the sense that it is possible for greenwashing to occur related to the CSR. The results also indicated that the process of independent verification of the reports has a limited effect to counteract this potential practice. The singularity of this study is the interdisciplinary approach and analysis of publicly available information about a determined period compared to the content of the CSR. The triangulation of the information can contribute to a better understanding of the CSR and foster reflection on the role of corporate environmental communication and the need for better reporting of non-financial information. ; El presente estudio de caso se propone analizar el informe corporativo socioambiental (RCS, por sus siglas en portugués) de una empresa brasileña para identificar sus potenciales vulnerabilidades al greenwashing. A partir del mapeo de literatura en las bases de datos de los portales de publicaciones científicas CAPES, SPELL y Google Scholar, fue posible identificar los presupuestos para la ocurrencia del greenwashing, reunidos en categorías de análisis. A través de un enfoque cualitativo, de carácter exploratorio, se utilizó el análisis temático reflexivo para confrontar las divulgaciones de la empresa, la información publicada en periódicos y la legislación pertinente. En conclusión, las proposiciones del estudio fueron parcialmente confirmadas, en el sentido de que es posible que el greenwashing ocurra a través del RCS. También se concluyó que el proceso de verificación independiente de los informes tiene un papel limitado para contener esta potencial práctica. La singularidad de este estudio deviene de su enfoque interdisciplinario y de la disponibilidad de información pública sobre determinado período de la empresa, analizada comparativamente con el contenido del RCS. Se espera que la triangulación de estas perspectivas de análisis contribuya a una mejor comprensión del RCS y fomente la reflexión sobre el papel de la comunicación ambiental empresarial y la necesaria mejora de la información contable no financiera. ; O presente estudo de caso propõe-se a analisar o relatório corporativo socioambiental (RCS) de uma empresa brasileira com o objetivo de identificar suas potenciais vulnerabilidades ao greenwashing. Com o mapeamento de literatura nas bases de dados do Portal de Periódicos CAPES, Spell e Google Scholar, foi possível identificar os pressupostos, que foram reunidos em categorias de análise, para ocorrência do greenwashing. Mediante abordagem qualitativa, de cunho exploratório, utilizou-se a análise temática reflexiva para confrontar as divulgações da empresa, as informações veiculadas em jornais e a legislação pertinente. Em conclusão, o caso analisado oferece evidências de que é possível que o greenwashing ocorra por meio do RCS. Também se concluiu que o processo de verificação independente dos relatórios tem uma atuação limitada na contenção dessa prática potencial. A singularidade deste estudo decorre da abordagem interdisciplinar e da disponibilidade de informações públicas sobre determinado período da empresa, analisadas em comparação com o conteúdo do RCS. Espera-se que a triangulação dessas perspectivas contribua para um melhor conhecimento sobre variedades de greenwashing presentes no RCS e fomente a reflexão sobre o papel da comunicação ambiental empresarial e o necessário aprimoramento das informações contábeis não financeiras.
Work productivity and structural change in Brazilian mining and manufacturing industries. Using an indicator of labor productivity, this paper aims to assess the contribution of structural changes in the Brazilian manufacturing and mining industry to productivity growth, during the 1970-2001 period. The paper concludes that: (i) there is no evidence to sustain that the Brazilian industry has definitely reversed the productivity growth rates slowdown trend; (ii) there is no clear evidence of a positive influence of the structural bonus; and (iii) job creation seems to be concentrated in low productivity growth sectors. (Rev Econ Polit/GIGA)
This article examines the innovation policy for the mining sector in Brazil. The specific objectives are to characterize the innovation policy for the sector; identify the priorities of each agent (university, industry, and government) for policy formulation and execution, and to verify, in their perception, the challenges for improvement of the mining policy. The research adopts a qualitative approach, using the Triple Helix model of innovation as the theoretical background. The Brazilian case is analyzed using Sweden as a benchmark. Relevant strategic documents were collected and 18 interviews were conducted in Brazil and Sweden. The agents perceive the innovation policy in Brazil as something ephemeral, reactive and lacking in structure. The comparison between the Swedish and the Brazilian innovation agenda for the sector reveals that the Swedish is much broader, including technological and non-technological innovations. The Swedish agenda emphasizes the need to go beyond a strictly economic concern (business competitiveness and industrial policy) in the mining sector. Swedes highlight not only the environmental dimension but also the social dimension when proposing "socially sustainable mining regions." In both Brazil and Sweden, the low social acceptance of mining and the lack of long-term continuity of innovation policies are important challenges to be overcome. ; El presente artículo tiene como objetivo general examinar la política de innovación para el sector mineral en Brasil. De forma más precisa, el artículo busca caracterizar la política de innovación para el sector en Brasil; identificar las prioridades de cada agente (universidad, empresa y gobierno); revelar la formulación y ejecución de la política; y verificar, según la percepción de dichos agentes, los desafíos a superar para el perfeccionamiento de la política. La investigación es cualitativa. Se levantaron documentos estratégicos relevantes y se realizaron 18 entrevistas en Brasil y Suecia. El modelo de triple hélice se constituye en marco referencial. La experiencia brasileña se analiza teniendo como referencia el caso sueco. La política de innovación en Brasil para el sector es percibida por los agentes como efímera, reactiva y poco estructurada. La comparación de la agenda sueca de innovación para el sector con la agenda brasileña revela que la agenda de Suecia es mucho más amplia, por incluir innovaciones tecnológicas y no tecnológicas. Los suecos, a diferencia de los brasileños, enfatizan la necesidad de ir más allá de una preocupación estrictamente económica (competitividad empresarial y política industrial) para el sector. Los suecos destacan no solo la dimensión ambiental, sino también la social, al proponer las "regiones mineras socialmente sostenibles". Tanto en Brasil como en Suecia, la baja aceptación social de la actividad y la falta de continuidad de las políticas de innovación a largo plazo constituyen desafíos importantes a superar. ; Este artigo tem por objetivo geral examinar a política de inovação para o setor mineral no Brasil. De modo mais específico, o artigo caracteriza a política de inovação para o setor no Brasil; identifica as prioridades que cada agente (universidade, empresa e governo); revela a formulação e execução da política; e verifica, na percepção deles, os desafios a superar para o aperfeiçoamento da política. Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa. Foram levantados documentos estratégicos relevantes e foram realizadas 18 entrevistas (no Brasil e na Suécia). O referencial teórico é constituído pelo Modelo da Hélice Tríplice. A experiência brasileira é analisada tendo o caso sueco como referência. A política de inovação no Brasil para o setor é percebida pelos agentes como efêmera, reativa e pouca estruturada. A comparação da agenda sueca de inovação para o setor com a agenda brasileira revela que a primeira é muito mais ampla, incluindo inovações tecnológicas e não tecnológicas. Os suecos, ao contrário dos brasileiros, enfatizam a necessidade de ir além de uma preocupação estritamente econômica (competitividade empresarial e política industrial) para o setor. Os suecos destacam não só a dimensão ambiental, mas também a social, ao propor as "regiões mineiras socialmente sustentáveis". Tanto no Brasil como na Suécia, a baixa aceitação social da atividade e a falta de continuidade das políticas de inovação no longo prazo constituem desafios importantes a superar.
