What is absolutely fascinating is that if you dig a little deeper and look at the structural failures that are really holding back the Brazilian economy they are very (almost shockingly) similar to those that plague Russia: high taxes, insufficient investment, inefficient government spending, over-reliance on consumer spending, excessive government red-tape, unreliable courts, poor transport infrastructure, rent-seeking, persistent inflation, high interest rates, and (potential) de-industrialization.

FORBES: What is the Weakest BRIC? A Hint: It's Not Russia