ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a brief overview of the Brazilian computer industry, as well as some of the policies and institutions which have shaped its structure and influenced its performance. It focuses on the policies and institutions which shaped the Brazilian computer industry in the last decade, culminating in the "National Informatics Policy" Law of October 1984. The radical transformation in electronics technology has been marked by two major developments: the increasing miniaturization of electronics components and the advent of digital techniques. In the Brazilian case, unrestricted entry of national firms in a market of limited economic size may have been responsible for the large unit costs of data processing equipment. Secretaria Especial de Informatica policies are not expected to shift significantly during the period, that the Brazilian Congress has given them the political seal of approval by passing the Informatics Law. The chapter concludes that a competitive environment and large production volumes are both critical elements to achieve international competitiveness.
