Abstract

Political Economy began to be known by Brazilian intellectuals by the end of
the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. During this colonial period, Brazil went
through a series of changes brought about by the transfer of the Portuguese Royal Family
to Rio de Janeiro. These changes affected Political Economy which began to be developed
within the government and acquired different characteristics than those of European Political
Economy of the same time. This article presents data related to this diffusion, the absortion
of Political Economy by the State and to examine the specificity it takes up in Brazil as
a consequence of the role the Portuguese government gives to it.

JEL Classification: B12; N46.