Hey guys,

My question is inspired by this article: http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2010/08/comparing_brazil_and_united_states

It compares the similarities and differences between Brazil and the USA. As a Brazilian, I've always wondered whether so many of our country's problem can be purely attributed to the vestiges of our colonial past. Indeed, we were a colony for over 300 years and we have only been independent for about 180 so far, and a republic for like 130 or so.

There is a 'running gag' in Brazil that the Portuguese are dumb, incompetent etc. With regards to their colonial system, to what extent is this true? I know the British didn't get it right every time (i.e. India, for example, shares many of the problems Brazil has, although it cannot be compared structurally to other British colonies), but the Brits did give us the US, Canada, Australia, etc.

So, my questions is: What elements of Brazil's problems (corruption, economic woes, etc) can be reasonably tied to its colonial past, and what was it about British rule that allowed the aforementioned countries to succeed? Thanks a lot in advance.