THE MINERVA PROGRAM

The Theory and Operation of a Modern National Economy

The Minerva Program is a sixteen-week economics training program especially designed for Brazilian government officials. The Program’s objective is to give the participants anaccurate, though concise, summary of modern market economics. The program emphasizes the importance of good public administration and of responsible, ethical public servants.

The following modules and topics comprise the core of the Minerva Program:

• Principles of Microeconomics • Principles of Macroeconomics • International Trade Theory • Hemispheric Trade Integration • The Role of the Financial System • The Role of Government • Latin American Social Trends • Issues in Development • Intellectual Property Rights • The Institutions Necessary for a Liberal Economy • Policies for Sustained Brazilian Economic Growth

The basic economic modules are led by professors from the George Washington University. Special topic modules are addressed by distinguished speakers from the University as well as from the multilateral agencies and the business sector.

The following are some of the speakers who have participated in the Minerva Program:

Dr. Uri Dadush, World Bank - Trends in the Global Economy; Dr. Sebastian Edwards, World Bank - Latin American Economic Policy Trends; Dr. David Fleischer, University of Brasília - Corruption, Governability and Brazilian Political Reform; Dr. Paul Holden, World Bank - Unshackling the Private Sector; Dr. Alexandre Kafka, IMF - Policies for Sustained Brazilian Growth; Dr. Paulo Leme, Goldman-Sachs - Private Sector View of Government Decisions; Dr. Claudio de Moura Castro, IDB - Social Trends in Latin America; Dr. John Page, World Bank - The ‘Asian Tigers’ Experience; Dr. Carlos Primo Braga, World Bank - Policies for Sustained Brazilian Growth; Dr. Carmen Reinhart, IMF - Capital Movements; Dr. Ricardo Santiago, IDB - Policies for Sustained Brazilian Growth; Dr. Geoffrey Shepherd, World Bank - The Pros and Cons of an Industrial Policy; Dr. Robert Sherwood - Intellectual Property Rights; Dr. Mary Shirley, World Bank - The Pros and Cons of Privatization; Dr. Roberto Vellutini, IDB - The Intricacies of Stabilization Programs.

To enrich each participant’s experience in Washington, weekly visits are scheduled to government and private institutions, such as:

Brazilian Embassy, Federal Reserve, Congress, State Department, Treasury, Office of Management & Budget, Congressional Budget Office, Commerce Department, Federal Communications Commission, Export-Import Bank, U.S. Trade Representative, Inter- American Development Bank, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States, New York Stock Exchange, Goldman-Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Standard & Poor’s, Lehman Brothers.

In addition to the core program of lectures, discussions and visits, each Minerva Program participant audits a regular university course of his choice, attends English- language training classes, and writes a thirty-page paper. These activities strengthen the participants’ knowledge of the materials related to their professional interests and improve their English-language fluency.

PARTICIPANTS Minerva Program participants have come from such organizations as:

• Bank of • Bahia Government • Ceará Government • Chamber of Deputies • Civil Household of the President • Central Bank • Institute of Labor Statistics (DIEESE) • Armed Forces Federal Staff (EMFA) • Federal District (DF) Legislature • Federal Senate • Internal Revenue Service (RF) • Court System • National Agency for Electric Energy (ANEEL) • National Agency for Petroleum (ANP) • National Bank of Social & Econ. Dev. (BNDES) • National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance • National Treasury • Minas Gerais Government • Ministry of Communications • Ministry of Development, Industry & Commerce • Ministry of Education • Ministry of Finance • Ministry of Justice • Ministry of Labor • Ministry of the Navy • Ministry of Mines and Energy • Ministry of Planning Ministry of Science and Technology • Ministry of Social Security • National Savings Bank (CAIXA ECONÔMICA) • Paraná Government • Government • Santa Catarina Agricultural Planning Institute (CEPA) • Santa Catarina Government • São Paulo Legislature • São Paulo Government • Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM)