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Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr.

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Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr.
File:Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr.jpg
Former Vice President for the New Development Bank
Former International Monetary Fund Executive Director
Personal details
Born (1955-04-02) April 2, 1955 (age 69)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Alma materPontifical Catholic University,Rio de Janeiro
London School of Economics
OccupationEconomist

Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr (born April 2, 1955) is a Brazilian economist who was an Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from April 2007 to June 2015[1]. He also was one of the founding members[2] of the New Development Bank (NDB) in Shanghai, where he held the vice-presidency between 2015 and 2017. Author of seven books (two of them in English) and a vast list of economic papers and publications, Nogueira has been also a frequent contributor to Brazilian magazines as Carta Capital and prominent daily newspapers as O Globo, based in Rio de Janeiro. The relation between nation, nationalism and globalization is one of his favorite subjects[3].

Focus on international issues

Since the early 1980s, Nogueira has focused on international economic issues, mostly on financial matters and debt renegotiations[4]. First, as an economic researcher in the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro. Subsequently, working for the Brazilian government, where he served as Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Ministry of Planning (1985-1986) and as Advisor to the Minister of Finance on External Debt (1986-1987)[5]. He was also the head of the Center for Monetary and International Economic Studies at Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro (1986-1989) and a professor of economics at Getulio Vargas in São Paulo (1990-2007). During and after his years at the IMF, Nogueira was known for defending the claims of emerging countries. In 2012, for example, Nogueira said that the IMF staff mostly played down the responsibility of advanced nations for the destabilizing surges in international capital flows[6] with major effects on emerging markets.

Executive Director at the IMF

Nogueira was nominated Executive Director at the IMF in 2007 by Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega during the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He was elected to represent Brazil and its eight other partners in the Executive Board (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, Panama, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago). These countries formed the Brazilian constituency[7] at the IMF, whose interests were represented by Nogueira. During his tenure, the number of countries in the Brazilian constituency rose from 9 to 11, with the departure of Colombia and the entry of Cabo Verde, Nicaragua and Timor-Leste.

At first, his nomination strengthened financial market perceptions that Brazilian President Lula da Silva would loosen the orthodox policy of his first term (2003-2006)[8] since Nogueira was known for being a strong critic of the Central Bank of Brazil and even of the IMF itself. In fact, Mantega chose Nogueira because they both advocated a package of reforms that would change the IMF quotas and reorganize its governing structure in favor of emerging countries.

Indeed, during the eight years Nogueira worked in the IMF this reform occupied a central position in his work. He took a strong stance on the need to make the institution more representative of the 21th century and together with other executive directors of developing countries managed to produce a shift in quotas and votes in the 2008 and 2010 governance reforms. While not enough to produce a major overhaul in the balance of power within the IMF, these changes shifted some voting power to emerging countries, notably to China and Brazil itself. The Brazilian economist also took an active part in the internal debate and decisions that produced in 2009 the IMF reform of credit instruments and the tripling of the institution's resources, which reached the amount of US$ 750 billion[9]. Throughout this whole process, Nogueira wrote many articles[10][11] about this issue. In a op-ed[12] published by The Financial Times, he argued that emerging markets need a bigger voice in the Fund. Nogueira explored this idea as well as a featured speaker invited by institutions like Boston University[13] and the Brookings think tank[14].

In some situations, Nogueira did not refrain from giving his position on sensitive issues, such as the IMF aid for Greece in 2013. In an unusual public statement, Brazil’s Executive Director said that the Greece's implementation of austerity measures had been “unsatisfactory in almost all areas” and assumptions about growth and debt sustainability “continue to be over-optimistic.”[15]

In an earlier statement on Greece to the IMF’s Executive Board, at the inception of the Greek crisis, in May 2010, Nogueira highlighted the view that the proposed program “may be seen not as a rescue of Greece, which will have to undergo a wrenching adjustment, but as a bailout of Greece’s private debt holders, mainly European financial institutions.”[16] [17]

Vice-president of the NBD (The BRICS bank)

When Nogueira came to Washington DC, in 2007, the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) did not exist as a political reality. BRICS cooperation only began in 2008, at the initiative of Russia. Seven years later, the scenario was quite different. Since the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank) were still unable or unwilling to reflect the increasing relative weight of the emerging economies in the world, the group's coordination was mature enough to launch a development bank and an emergency reserve fund. "If the existing institutions were doing their jobs perfectly, there would be no need to go to the trouble of creating a new bank, a new fund,"[18] said Nogueira during the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, on July 15, 2014.

He was involved in the negotiations[4] that led to the founding of the New Development Bank (NDB), and the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement. As the first President of the NDB, K. V. Kamath, was Indian, the other four countries could each designate a vice-president[19]. Nogueira was then indicated by the Brazilian government to take office as one of the vice-presidents of the NDB. Following the second meeting of its Board of Directors in November 2015, the institution announced[20] the allocation of formal responsibilities to the four vice-presidents of the Bank and the Brazilian economist took office as Chief Risk Officer, in charge also of strategy, expansion of membership and economic research, a position he held until October 2017.

Books in English

Nogueira wrote two books in English:

International Financial Flows to Brazil Since the Late 1960s: Analysis of Debt Expansion and Payments Problems (1987, World Bank[21]) ISBN 978-0821308912 - This work was originally written as a background paper for the preparation of the World Development Report 1985. The author provides a sequential analysis of the development of debt-creating financial flows to Brazil since the late 1960s and offers a discussion of the rescheduling agreements between Brazil and its creditors.

The BRICS and the Financing Mechanisms They Created: Progress and Shortcomings (2021, Anthem Press) ISBN 978-1-83998-206-4 - The author assesses the progress and shortcomings of the BRICS financing mechanisms to date and also presents an analysis of aspects of the international economy related to the BRICS, in particular of their relations with the West[4]. The book includes a discussion of the future of the BRICS, highlighting that joint action by the five countries is likely to remain an important feature of the international landscape in the decades to come. Even though the group become more lopsided due to the increase of China's relative political and economic importance, Nogueira expects[22] that China will retain a lasting interest in BRICS cooperation - even more so if its relations with the United States remain fraught with tensions.

The social challenge in a post-pandemic world

In Nogueira's view, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of coordination among nations[23]. It has also highlighted the role of the BRICS in dealing with the tasks of fighting the pandemic and fostering the development of their economies and of other developing countries. Indeed, the NDB Board approved large and defined program loans for the member countries, including China[24].

"For many developing countries, their needs are not adequately recognized by the international organizations", Nogueira said at the BRICS Seminar on Governance in 2021, promoted by China[25]. In his evaluation, the BRICS countries can help boost the common development and prosperity of all countries. Nogueira cited, in particular, the progress made by China and India in improving the livelihoods of their citizens and tackling poverty.

Give peace a chance in Ukraine

Aware that there are no prospects for a short-term solution in the Russia-Ukraine War, the economist believes that peace is still possible. Results will probably not come immediately, but, in his view, the ground needs be prepared by creating a group of neutral countries that can bridge the gap between the parties in conflict, as proposed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In an article[26] written for Global Policy, Nogueira sketches some elements of what could be a possible diplomatic solution with might satisfy all or almost all those involved.

References

  1. ^ "BRICS Series: The New Multilateral Development Banks (NBD-BRICS and AIIB) and the International Financial System". BRICS Policy Center. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Maximo, Welton (June 9, 2015). "Brazilian economist quits IMF to become vice-president at BRICS bank". Agencia Brasil. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  3. ^ "Estudos Avançados Magazine from USP - University of Sao Paulo" (PDF). Revistas USP. April 1, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Igo, Samantha (October 26, 2021). "Evaluating the BRICS Financing Mechanisms: Q&A with Paulo Nogueira Batista, Jr". The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP). Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Paulo Nogueira Batista, Junior, Speaks at Pardee Center Luncheon". Pardee School of Global Studies. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  6. ^ Wroughton, Lesley (December 3, 2012). "IMF adopts view on capital controls, emerging countries wary". Reuters. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  7. ^ Apolinario Junior, Laerte (October 4, 2015). "Foreign aid and the governance of international financial organizations: the Brazilian-bloc case in the IMF and the World Bank". SciELO Brasil. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "Brazil could begin to relax its strict monetary policy". MercoPress. February 23, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  9. ^ "Global crisis has silver lining for IMF". India Times. April 5, 2009.
  10. ^ "New Economic Thinking, Teaching and Policy Perpsectives - A Brazilian Perspective within a Global Dialogue - Presentations". The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - INCT. November 7, 2011.
  11. ^ Batista, Nogueira & Torres, Hector (April 15, 2015). "How to reform IMF now". Project Syndicate.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Nogueira Batista, Paulo (September 23, 2010). "Europe must make way for a modern IMF". The Financial Times. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Pardee Center Luncheon with Featured Speaker, Paulo Nogueira Batista, Junior on "The IMF, Capital Controls, and Developing Countries"". Boston University. September 16, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Brookings‐CIGI‐G24 High Level Seminar - Delivering on IMF Quota and Governance Reform" (PDF). G24.org. 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  15. ^ Olster, Marjorie (July 31, 2013). "IMF board member did not back Greece aid payment". Ap News. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  16. ^ Dodman, Benjamin (July 1, 2015). "As EU sleepwalks towards Grexit, tragedy turns to farce". France24. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  17. ^ Stewart, Heather (January 18, 2015). "A new idea steals across Europe – should Greece's debt be forgiven?". The Guardian. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  18. ^ Tordjman, Jeremy (July 20, 2014). "BRICS shake up global economic architecture". Yahoo News. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  19. ^ Xinhua (June 11, 2015). "Brazilian economist to be BRICS bank vice-president". China Daily. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "New Development Bank appoints 4 new Vice Presidents, allocates roles". The Economic Times. November 26, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  21. ^ Batista Jr., Paulo Nogueira. "WDP- 7 - World Bank Documents" (PDF). World Bank Documents. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  22. ^ Batista Jr., Paulo Nogueira (2022). The BRICS and the Financing Mechanisms They Created - Progress and Shortcomings. London, UK and New York, USA: Anthem Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN 978-1-83998-206-4.
  23. ^ Igo, Samantha (October 26, 2021). "Evaluating the BRICS Financing Mechanisms: Q&A with Paulo Nogueira Batista, Jr". Boston University Global Development Policy Center. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  24. ^ "NDB Board of Directors approves RMB 7 billion Emergency Program Loan for Supporting China's Economic Recovery from Covid-19". New Development Bank. March 2, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  25. ^ Yingqun, Chen (November 5, 2021). "Development key focus for BRICS group". China Daily. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  26. ^ Batista Jr., Paulo Nogueira (April 12, 2023). "Give peace a chance in Ukraine". Global Policy. Retrieved May 17, 2023.

Category:Brazilian economists

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