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Once tipped as one of the brightest emerging economies, Brazil has seen growth fall off a cliff in recent quarters as long-term problems bubbled to the surface. Its workers are unproductive, infrastructure spending lags and protectionism remains in vogue.
Enter the World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event complete with millions of tourists and mega corporate sponsors. To capitalize on the spotlight, Brazil is spending an estimated $11.5 billion on new stadiums, transportation and airports. Seeking to justify the extravagance, politicians promised that the event would bring huge economic benefits and improved infrastructure.
The event carries potential risks, too. Local economies are likely to be disrupted, and already complicated air travel in the country could be affected as tourists travel between the 12 game sites. With just weeks to go before the tournament kicks off, the country has been beset by a series of strikes as workers demand pay raises and new benefits.
Many Brazilians are skeptical about these claims. Thousands took part in street protests and riots during last year's Confederations Cup, the top soccer tournament in the Americas. Some said they were upset with lavish spending on sports events at the expense of the social safety net in a country beset with gross inequality.
Brazilians are right to doubt the economic benefits of hosting the World Cup, according to a report by Moody's Investors Service. The credit rating agency argues that new infrastructure spending associated with the event is small for the $2 trillion economy, and benefits to businesses will be fleeting. "We see little impact on Brazil considering the limited duration of the World Cup and the size of the country's economy," Moody's said.
Source: CNN.com (Adapted from: http://money.cnn.com/, May/2014)
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