Desenvolvimento econômico e ditadura: uma análise dos determinantes para qualificar a Ditadura Militar brasileira

Abstract

This article aims to analyze different theoretical conceptions of the notion of "development" — such as the neoclassical approach, centered on product growth; the perspectives of Amartya Sen and Bresser-Pereira, which incorporate social, structural, and institutional dimensions; and the Marxist view of Francisco de Oliveira, which emphasizes class struggle — in order to interpret the process of economic development during the Brazilian Military Dictatorship. Based on these approaches, the article seeks to answer the following question: was there, in fact, development during this period, and who benefited from it? Despite the high rates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and GDP per capita growth — especially during the so-called "Economic Miracle" — indicators such as wage stagnation, high inflation, and rising public debt suggest that the gains from this growth were not broadly shared by the working class. These contrasts raise the debate about the validity of classifying this period as one of genuine development, or whether it merely represented concentrated growth, an exclusive modernization that benefited only the higher-income segments of society.