Paulo Guedes and the destruction of small businesses.

Numerous outrageous, obscene, and idiotic things were said at the meeting that Bolsonaro and his friends had in the bar on the third floor of the Planalto Palace on April 22nd. They called it a pompous "ministerial meeting," but I have my doubts.

Among so many outrageous things said, I wouldn't know which would deserve the title of highlight of the year, but a phrase from Minister Paulo Guedes caught my attention, in addition, of course, to the emblematic "we have to sell this damn thing soon," referring to Banco do Brasil.

He said: “We’re going to make money using public resources to save big companies. Now, we’re going to lose money saving small businesses.”

This is idiotic macroeconomic thinking, forgetting that it is precisely the microeconomy that runs this country, exercised by the very small businesses.

Most jobs in Brazil are generated by micro and small businesses. To give you an idea, micro and small businesses generated 731 formal jobs in 2019; while medium and large businesses closed 88 positions with formal contracts.

Food production

In the food production chain, the difference between small and large producers is striking, because while large food producers are concerned with monoculture and the dollars of... commoditiesOf the exportable food products, small producers (mainly family farms) are concerned with feeding the Brazilian population.

As we know, it is estimated that small producers are responsible for about 70% of the food basket for Brazilians.

Of course, to produce all of this, you need people, you need labor. Thus, it's no coincidence that, according to the latest Brazilian Agricultural Census (2017), 77% of all agricultural establishments in the country are in the hands of family farmers. Furthermore, 67% of all people employed in agriculture in the country, approximately 10,1 million people at the time, worked in family farming.

Large food production conglomerates occupy more space (67%) and employ fewer people. Family farming occupies less space (23%) and provides jobs for more people.

So, my dear minister, stop this nonsense and start putting your hand in your pocket to save the small businesses harmed by the pandemic, if you really want to save the country's economy and generate jobs.