Brazilian entrepreneur: a comparative study

Abstract This work examines the debate about the Brazilian entrepreneur, aiming at challenging the widely accepted vision that the Paulista and Carioca experiences, in what concerns the formation of the entrepreneurial class, can be extended to other parts of Brazil. The work compares the social background and the sources of capital of Mineiro, Paulista and Carioca entrepreneurs in the XIXth century. The analysis reveals that Mineiro entrepreneurs came from the local elite constituted basically by Brazilians and that the sources of capital (mainly, agriculture and trade) used by Mineiro entrepreneurs were distinct in their nature, with coffee and the import-export trade having a less relevant role.

摘要 本研究围绕巴西企业家群体的相关争议展开探讨，旨在质疑一种广为接受的观点：即认为圣保罗州（Paulista）与里约热内卢州（Carioca）在企业家阶层形成过程中的经验，可推广至巴西其他地区。本研究对比了19世纪米纳斯吉拉斯州（Mineiro）、圣保罗州及里约热内卢州企业家的社会背景与资本来源。分析结果显示，米纳斯吉拉斯州企业家主要出身于以本土巴西人为主体的本地精英阶层，其资本来源（主要为农业与商贸）性质独具特色，咖啡产业与进出口贸易在其中的作用相对有限。