Surplus transfers in Portuguese economy - profits and losses evaluation

Abstract

Together with the deep, post-25th April changes, a recomposition of wealth distribution took place, producing winners and losers in both economic and social areas. It was the main purpose of this research work to reach a first quantitative expression of the phaenomenon through the study of the transfers of surplus production in Portuguese economy. The results show that the economic and social weight of the productive sector has moved towards the non-productive sector. In spite of the difficulties affecting production, the export segment have been clearly favored by the prevailing economic strategy. While affecting differentially the several branches of activity, inflation clearly privileged the surplus transfers. Furthermore, the State, while being responsible for the country's economic policy, has played a fundamental role as to the changes occurred. The main, final conclusion is that the surplus circulation and affectation highly conflict to the demands of reproductive accumulation, i.e. to the reconstitution of the production basis in Portuguese economy.