Macroeconomic determinants of investment in Brazil: an empirical analysis for the period 1996-2012

ABSTRACT This paper aims at analysing the macroeconomic determinants of the aggregate private investment in the Brazilian economy from 1996 to 2012. The paper presents the main investment theories, contrasting neoclassical and Keynesian models, reviews the previous empirical literature and provides potentially new evidence on the topic. Our results suggest that the variables usually associated with Keynesian models, such as credit, demand and expectations, have better explained the private investment dynamic in Brazil. Finally, we have also explored relationships between our results and the contemporary debate on Brazil's economic growth performance.