Such a shame. Brazil has always been an emerging power, much like India. But their leftist policies and corrupt officials is dragging it into the ground.
No, I believe it is the culture.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Brasil and my Portuguese is good enough that the Brazilians think I am Brazilian - if they don’t talk to me for more than 10 minutes! I love the country, have been all over it, and I love the people more than anywhere I’ve been in the world, and I’ve been all over.
But it’s almost impossible to get anything done in Brazil. Time does not exist - they say, “Don’t take a watch to Brazil -it’s useless.” If you call a meeting of 5, no one will be there at the time set, two will arrive 30 min. late, 2 between an hour and 1 1/2hours late, and one will not show and not call to notify. It is normal and accepted.
Even honest Brazillians will tell you that when you enter a contract in the USA, you fully expect every party to honor the contract, and it’s the exception to not do so.
In Brazil, you expect everyone in a contract to break it in one or many ways - to cheat, steal, lie - or not perform. So you plan accordingly.
I could give many more examples, but these make the point.
Corruption in business and government is endemic and accepted as normal.
It’s amazing that they even got 30% done......