Avanços e perspectivas do desenvolvimento econômico e regional no Mercosul: um estudo sobre os impactos do Focem

Abstract

The present research deals with the Common Market of the South (Mercosur), which completed 30 years in 2021 and, despite of its journey, still faces criticism, mainly due to problems arising from persistent and structural economic asymmetries in the integration process between the States Members. To try solving this problem, the bloc created the Mercosur Structural Convergence Fund (Focem), responsible for financing structural convergence and social cohesion projects that intend to smoothing out these differences. In this sense, in order to understand how the Fund reflects the concerns with the reduction of these asymmetries, was used the inductive method, in addition to a bibliographicdocumentary study. Besides that, were collected datas to analyze the implications of Focem for the economic development of Mercosur. The research, therefore, concludes by arguing that the trajectory of the bloc has shown a growing distinction between its members, while Brazil has strengthened its economic relevance in this process. This is due, among other factors, to the very process of formation of regional integration influenced by economic liberalism.