Mário Henrique Simonsen (19 February 1935 – 9 February 1997) was a Brazilian economist, who served as Brazil's finance minister from 1974 to 1979.[1]
Mário Henrique Simonsen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 15 March 1974 – 15 March 1979 | |
| President | Ernesto Geisel |
| Preceded by | José Flávio Pécora |
| Succeeded by | Karlos Rischbieter |
| Minister of Planning | |
| In office 15 March 1979 – 10 August 1979 | |
| President | João Figueiredo |
| Preceded by | Reis Veloso |
| Succeeded by | Golbery do Couto e Silva |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 February 1935 Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Brazil |
| Died | 9 February 1997 (aged 61) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Profession | Engineer, banker, economist |
Simonsen was appointed Brazil's finance minister by President Ernesto Geisel with instructions to reduce the country's runaway inflation rate.
Despite Simonsen's efforts, the official inflation rate had risen to 40% per annum in 1979 and he was shifted to Planning Minister.
He was succeeded by Antonio Delfim Netto, with whom he had an uneasy relationship due to the latter's inclination to increase borrowing, and hence inflation.
Simonsen resigned from Cabinet in 1980 and became a director of Citicorp, a position he held until 1995 when he was forced by ill-health to retire. He was a chronic heavy smoker and suffered from emphysema.
Other interests
editSimonsen was an excellent baritone and an opera aficionado.
Family
editHe was married to Iluska Pereira da Cunha Simonsen. Thy had two sons and a daughter.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ David Cay Johnston (13 February 1997). "Mario Simonsen, 61, Ex-Brazilian Finance Chief". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2020.