There is an idea that Portugal is in a permanent economic crisis. This is not the case.
While the country has indeed experienced seven crises in the last 50 years, there's no denying the major progress made in the national economy – starting with the increase in the population's qualifications and ending with record exports, which reached 50% of GDP in 2022.
This mini-documentary illustrates the main economic characteristics of a democracy. From the initial strength of the state to the subsequent economic opening to the outside world and the stagnation of economic growth after the 1990s – when it was thought that Portugal would continue to converge with its European partners.
At a time when choosing where to invest resources is crucial, some of Portugal's best economists and managers analyse possible solutions for achieving economic growth and increasing productivity and wages, thereby retaining Portugal’s home-grown talent. This is a major challenge we face on the 50th anniversary of our democracy.
Portugal has changed drastically over the last 50 years. Almost five decades on, what profound changes have taken place in the country? And what lessons should we learn to improve the future?
The Foundation has an extensive program to reflect on what has changed and what measures still need to be implemented to improve national democracy.
The programme begins at the Carmo Barracks where the regime fell – with the event "Five decades of democracy, what has changed?" – and extends to more debates, a series of eight mini-documentaries, documentaries, publications and studies, which will allow us to think about and build the collective future.
How unequal is the country? Are poverty and inequality decreasing or increasing? And how have Portuguese families reacted to the social and economic...