BIOGRAPHY

Brian Nicholson is a British economic journalist and author who has lived in Brazil since 1976, specializing in sustainable economic development and infrastructure. He has worked as a foreign correspondent, business magazine editor, and director of infrastructure studies and regional economic development plans. From 1996 through 2002 he directed research at the ADTP, one of Brazil’s pioneer privately-funded economic development agencies, and was a consultant to the federal Planning Ministry for international infrastructure investment promotion.

Nicholson has written, edited or co-authored several books on Brazil, mainly with a business and development focus. In 2006 he was principal joint author of a major study for SOBEET, a São Paulo research organization dealing with Foreign Direct Investment, on the internationalization of Brazilian companies. The following year saw publication of his groundbreaking book describing the relationship between the Brazilian welfare system and the perpetuation of inequality, under the title (in Portuguese) “Unfair Welfare – How the End of Privileges could Change Brazil” (ISBN 978-85-75091-56-2).

Nicholson has been a consultant to Sobratema, the Brazilian Association of Technology for Equipment and Maintenance, for several years. In 2007-08 he conducted Sobratema’s first annual Construction Equipment Market Survey, which he directs to this day. He has also worked extensively for UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, and various international real estate companies.
He has worked with Peninsula Press for several years, writing Special Reports for publication with Foreign Policy magazine.