Antônio Delfim Netto

Antônio Delfim Netto (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐ̃ˈtoniu dɛwˈfĩ ˈnɛtu]; 1 May 1928 – 12 August 2024) was a Brazilian economist, academic, and politician who was the Minister of Finance, Agriculture, and Planning,^[3] as well as a congressman. During his incumbency as Minister of Finance of Brazil, the country experienced the so-called Economic Miracle, a time of unprecedented economic growth.^[3]

Antônio Delfim Netto
Netto in 2008
Member of the Chamber of Deputies[1]
In office 1 February 1987 – 1 February 2007
Constituency	São Paulo
Minister of the Department of Planning[2]
In office 15 August 1979 – 14 March 1985
President	João Figueiredo
Preceded by	Mário Henrique Simonsen
Succeeded by	João Sayad
Minister of Agriculture
In office 15 March 1979[3] – 15 August 1979[4]
President	João Figueiredo[3]
Preceded by	Alysson Paulinelli[3]
Succeeded by	Amaury Stabile[3]
Ambassador of Brazil to France[5]
In office 7 February 1975 – 10 February 1978
President	Ernesto Geisel[3]
Preceded by	Aurélio de Lira Tavares
Succeeded by	Ramiro Saraiva Guerreiro
Minister of Finance[6]
In office 17 March 1967 – 15 March 1974
President	Artur da Costa e Silva Emílio Garrastazu Médici
Preceded by	Eduardo Lopes Rodrigues
Succeeded by	Mário Henrique Simonsen
Personal details
Born	(1928-05-01)1 May 1928[7] São Paulo, Brazil[8]
Died	12 August 2024(2024-08-12) (aged 96) São Paulo, Brazil
Political party	PP (2011–2024)
Other political affiliations	ARENA (1965–1979) PDS (1979–1993) PPR (1993–1995) PPB (1995–2003)
Alma mater	School of Economics, Business and Accounting of the University of São Paulo
Field	Monetarism[9] Estruturalism[10]
School or tradition	Monetarism

The Milagre Econômico overseen by Delfim Netto relied on a heterodox, developmentalist model.^[11] The economic expansion relied on low wages, rapidly rising exports, and foreign capital inflows.^[11] Delfim Netto gave another added meaning to the phrase "cake theory" in reference to this model: the cake had to grow before it could be distributed.^[11] Although the "cake" in his metaphor did grow, it was highly unequally distributed.^[11] Delfim Netto died in São Paulo on 12 August 2024, at the age of 96.^[12]

Bibliography

• Antônio Delfim Netto (1997). O Brasil pós-real: a política econômica em debate. Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia. ISBN 978-85-86215-06-3.