By David González, CEO of Intel Brasil
When Law 11.196, popularly known as Lei do Bem, was created in 2005, there was a very clear objective: to accelerate the digital inclusion of a large portion of the Brazilian population through a series of tax exemptions on the production of PCs and other electronics in Brazilian territory. These exemptions, specifically on PIS / Pasep and Cofins, were expanded in 2008 to also include smartphones and tablets, thus adapting to the natural evolution that the use of electronic devices has undergone in recent years.
The benefits derived from the Lei do Bem in these 10 years are unquestionable. Incentives for the national production of computers, notebooks, tablets and smartphones resulted in an expansion in the number of foreign companies that opted for local manufacturing, generating jobs and revenues for the country. According to estimates by the Ministry of Finance published on Portal Brasil, until July 2014 the production of computers and other devices in the national territory jumped from 4 million units / year to 22 million units / year, including notebooks and tablets in the results.
In addition to the economic achievements, we also have a great social achievement - the digital inclusion of a good part of Brazilians. According to Pnad 2014, the number of households with computers has already reached 49.5% of the total. Advances could also be seen in education. According to data released by Inep this year, 61% of schools have an internet connection aimed at student use, an important increase of 14% in relation to the data obtained in 2010. It is noteworthy that the vast majority of computers used in educational institutions are entry machines, with cost value below R$ 1500, precisely the portion benefited by the Law of Good.
The Law of Good had a ripple effect. With cheaper devices, more people started to connect, and with more Brazilians connected, the country began to rehearse an interesting movement: the number of technology-based startups multiplied, bringing more services and amenities to the daily lives of the population . On an individual level, mobile devices such as PCs, notebooks and 2-in-1 devices continue to be the main means of promoting productive digital inclusion, in addition to fostering digital inclusion by accessing and consuming information, contributing to the formation of a knowledge society.
The bad news is that, through Provisional Measure 690, the federal government chose to anticipate the end of the Good Law - discussions are taking place in the government, with the aim of defining the direction of the tax exemption for the coming years. The measure will have a direct impact on the cost of producing these devices, which in turn will be passed on to the consumer. The expectation is that prices will rise by at least 10%, this in a sector of the economy that has not yet been able to fully absorb the costs related to the devaluation of the real against the dollar.
It is understandable and desirable for the federal government to take measures to mitigate the scenario of economic crisis that the country is going through today. However, it is necessary to think about the long-term effects of the end of the Law of Good: how are the 50% of homes that still do not have access to a computer? How will Brazil continue to encourage innovation and the creation of technology-based companies and jobs with high added value? How is our competitiveness? All of this needs to be considered in order for the country to move towards a knowledge society.
There is no doubt about the benefits that the Lei do Bem - and the leap in digital inclusion it has brought - to the country. The end of incentives for the production of computers, smartphones, tablets, among others, can not only significantly impair the capacity for innovation in Brazilian industry, but also suddenly stop a process that benefits all layers of society. It is a short-term economy, which may prove to be expensive in the future.
The benefits derived from the Lei do Bem in these 10 years are unquestionable. Incentives for the national production of computers, notebooks, tablets and smartphones resulted in an expansion in the number of foreign companies that opted for local manufacturing, generating jobs and revenues for the country. According to estimates by the Ministry of Finance published on Portal Brasil, until July 2014 the production of computers and other devices in the national territory jumped from 4 million units / year to 22 million units / year, including notebooks and tablets in the results.
In addition to the economic achievements, we also have a great social achievement - the digital inclusion of a good part of Brazilians. According to Pnad 2014, the number of households with computers has already reached 49.5% of the total. Advances could also be seen in education. According to data released by Inep this year, 61% of schools have an internet connection aimed at student use, an important increase of 14% in relation to the data obtained in 2010. It is noteworthy that the vast majority of computers used in educational institutions are entry machines, with cost value below R$ 1500, precisely the portion benefited by the Law of Good.
The Law of Good had a ripple effect. With cheaper devices, more people started to connect, and with more Brazilians connected, the country began to rehearse an interesting movement: the number of technology-based startups multiplied, bringing more services and amenities to the daily lives of the population . On an individual level, mobile devices such as PCs, notebooks and 2-in-1 devices continue to be the main means of promoting productive digital inclusion, in addition to fostering digital inclusion by accessing and consuming information, contributing to the formation of a knowledge society.
The bad news is that, through Provisional Measure 690, the federal government chose to anticipate the end of the Good Law - discussions are taking place in the government, with the aim of defining the direction of the tax exemption for the coming years. The measure will have a direct impact on the cost of producing these devices, which in turn will be passed on to the consumer. The expectation is that prices will rise by at least 10%, this in a sector of the economy that has not yet been able to fully absorb the costs related to the devaluation of the real against the dollar.
It is understandable and desirable for the federal government to take measures to mitigate the scenario of economic crisis that the country is going through today. However, it is necessary to think about the long-term effects of the end of the Law of Good: how are the 50% of homes that still do not have access to a computer? How will Brazil continue to encourage innovation and the creation of technology-based companies and jobs with high added value? How is our competitiveness? All of this needs to be considered in order for the country to move towards a knowledge society.
There is no doubt about the benefits that the Lei do Bem - and the leap in digital inclusion it has brought - to the country. The end of incentives for the production of computers, smartphones, tablets, among others, can not only significantly impair the capacity for innovation in Brazilian industry, but also suddenly stop a process that benefits all layers of society. It is a short-term economy, which may prove to be expensive in the future.
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