Policy Work
Recent Policy Papers:
I show that federal judges are at the very top of the income distribution, with incomes larger than 99.7% of workers in the private sector.
Even when one considers a very high-skilled lawyer or attorney – such as those with more than 10 years of experience and a doctoral degree –, federal judges still make almost double.
The full policy paper was published by Instituto Liberal, and it has also been featured in Estadão (see embeded), one of the largest newspapers in Brazil.
Featured in: Estadão, UOL Notícias, Istoé Dinheiro, Revista Oeste, Jornal de Brasília
How much does a federal deputy cost?
We estimate the impact of a bill to increase the number of representatives in Brazil's Chamber of Deputies to 527.
In a policy note for Instituto Millenium, Mariana Piaia Abreu and I estimate the cost at R$ 46.2 million a year.
Our findings have been featured in Estadão, Zero Hora, Revista Oeste, and O Sul.
While working as a policy analyst, I had the opportunity to personally draft several bills and collaborate in policy proposals. Many were approved into law and are now effective in the City of Porto Alegre, the capital of the southern-most state of Brazil.
Commision for COVID-19 Economic Relief Measures
I was appointed as a policy advisor for Economic Relief Measures. Some of the policies the Commision approved include:
Coronavirus Relief Fund, with cash transfers to families in poverty conditions.
Waiving of all municipal fees and extension of license terms for businesses while restrictions were in place.
Prorogation of tax due dates and moratorium on payments due by businesses on their tax debts.
A comprehensive list of policies can be found here.
Drafted Bills Approved into Law
Municipal Economic Freedom Bill of Rights (Supplemental Law nº 876/2020)
Exempts low-risk business of any licenses or permits, massively reducing the costs, time, and complexity for opening and running a business in the city. Nearly all commercial activities and services were considered low-risk.
End of Monopoly for City Tour Bus Routes (Law nº 12,713/2020)
The government-owned transportation company held a monopoly over sight-seeing buses. Despite the monopoly, they opperated with significant losses. Now, private companies can operate freely, deciding their own routes.
Reduction of Bureaucracy (Law nº 12,411/2018 and Law nº 12,714/2020)
- Exempts citizens from providing notarized copies and proof of address when dealing with the local government.
- Establishes the Taxpayer Number as sufficient and unique document for any requests to local government and its programs, exempting citizens of providing further documentation (e.g.) Identification Card, Employee Booklet, Social Security Register, and Property Registration numbers.
Drafted Bills Proposed
Constitutional Amendment for Supermajority for Tax Raises (Amendment Bill nº 02/2019)
Requires a supermajority of 2/3 for any bill proposing tax increases, including alterations in rates, brackets, formulas for property value calculation.
End of Paid-Leave for Public Employees Running for Office (Supplemental Law Bill nº 003/21)
Municipal public employees can request a paid-leave for up to 90 days to run for office, which has an impact of millions of Reais every election cycle.
End of Restrictive Zoning Laws for Supermarkets (Supplemental Law Bill nº 021/2021)
Current zoning laws prohibits the construction of new supermarkets with more than 3,000 sq. meters (~32,000 sq.ft.). Historical records of the debates that led to the approval of this zoning law show explicitly interest-group lobby, where small competitors captured the regulation to prevent larger competitors from setting in.
Matrix of Regulatory Impact
I created a Matrix of Regulatory Impact, that served as a guide for the Commission on Legislative Modernization.
The Commission review each and every of the +15,000 laws of the City of Porto Alegre.
The matrix created an order of priority for reviews: those that created obligations, prohibitions, restrictions or imposed costs were high priority, with the intention to reduce the regulatory burden as soon as possible.