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Mário Henrique Simonsen

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Mário Henrique Simonsen
Minister of Finance
In office
15 March 1974 – 15 March 1979
PresidentErnesto Geisel
Preceded byJosé Flávio Pécora
Succeeded byKarlos Rischbieter
Minister of Planning
In office
15 March 1979 – 10 August 1979
PresidentJoão Figueiredo
Preceded byReis Veloso
Succeeded byGolbery do Couto e Silva
Personal details
Born(1935-02-19)19 February 1935
Rio de Janeiro, Federal District, Brazil
Died9 February 1997(1997-02-09) (aged 61)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ProfessionEngineer, banker, economist

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]

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

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Simonsen was an excellent baritone and an opera aficionado.

Family

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He was married to Iluska Pereira da Cunha Simonsen. Thy had two sons and a daughter.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ David Cay Johnston (13 February 1997). "Mario Simonsen, 61, Ex-Brazilian Finance Chief". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by
José Flávio Pécora
Minister of Finance
1974–1979
Succeeded by
Karlos Rischbieter
Preceded by Minister of Planning
1979
Succeeded by