By FERNANDO NOGUEIRA DA COSTA*
Commentary on the book celebrating José Márcio Rego's 70th birthday (Festschrift)
1.
We learn unforgettable lessons from great teachers. At the end of Professor Antônio Barros de Castro's course, in the second class of the master's degree in economics at Unicamp, in 1975, the entire class was invited to his residence. We stayed in the living room and he called us one by one to his library.
– Fernando, what did you like about my course? – Professor, I enjoyed your debate with Fernando Novais about the existence or not of a colonial mode of production.
Then he stood up, took a book from the shelf by Ciro Cardoso (1942-2013) on the subject and said to me: – Write a review about it. – Fesso, how do you write a review? – First, frame the book in a debate. Then, summarize the book without adjectives. In the third part, compare the second part against the first: what progress has been made in the debate. Finally, make your critical evaluation: what could have been progressed – and the author did not. That’s it.
2.
Well, ½ century later, I will apply the learning in the review of Seams of thought. It is a Festschrift – publication of the celebration in German – in honor of José Marcio Rego’s 70th birthday, bringing together texts by various authors. They express respect and affection for him.
The collection seeks to convey his impact as an intellectual, academic, articulator and friend, exploring various facets of his personality and contributions to Brazilian economic thought. The authors highlight his ability to bring people together, promote debates and influence the Brazilian intellectual scene.
The importance of rhetoric in economics is a central theme, reflecting the honoree's interest in this area. The work explores the role of rhetoric in the construction of economic knowledge, in persuasion and in the resolution of controversies.
Reflection on methodology in economic science is another relevant theme in the work. The authors discuss different methodological approaches, the importance of the history of economic thought and the relationship between theory and practice.
The collection addresses the history of Brazilian economic thought, recovering the contributions of important economists and analyzing the different theoretical currents that have influenced the country. For example, inflationary processes and attempts at stabilization in Brazil are recurring themes, due to the collections of essays organized by José Marcio Rego in 1986 and 1989. The authors analyze the role of distributive conflict in inflationary dynamics, the theory of acceleration versus inertial inflation, the stabilization plans implemented in the country, etc.
The book explores the relationship between power and knowledge by analyzing whether economists' ideas influence economic policy and decision-making in Brazil. The authors discuss the role of intellectuals in public debate and the importance of understanding the links between political economy and economic policy.
José Marcio also published Conversations with philosophers, Conversations with sociologists e Conversations with historians. Therefore, some authors approach the philosophical debate on pragmatism and hermeneutics in order to understand how these perspectives contribute to the interpretation of economic discourse. They discuss the importance of dialogue, argumentation and interpretation in the construction of knowledge.
In short, Seams of thought is a multifaceted tribute to José Marcio Rego. It showcases his contributions to Brazilian economic thought, his appreciation for rhetoric and methodology, and his ability to connect people and ideas.
3.
It is an edited volume with contributions from colleagues, former students, former professors and friends of the honoree. It is being published on the occasion of the honoree's birthday and offers reflections on the relationship between theory and practice, power and knowledge, and the importance of dialogue and argumentation for greater knowledge.
In the book, José Marcio Rego is recognized as a leading economist (“he loves cakes” – sic), an intellectual with a passion for books and an excellent teacher. He shows a special interest in the area of economic methodology and is a disseminator of literature on rhetoric in economics.
José Marcio Rego has a broad interest in the manifestation of human intelligence in various areas, studying philosophy, political science, sociology, history and literature. He has the ability to navigate complex themes and issues without partisanship or arrogance.
José Marcio Rego is described as an organizer, intellectual-entrepreneur and academic articulator. He is known for organizing books of interviews with academics, especially economists, and for promoting debates. His ability to bring together different people around common purposes is remarkable.
José Marcio is considered a great “conversationalist”, a master in the art of conversation. He values constant dialogue between divergent voices and understands the role of ethics in the discourse of scientists.
He is also known as an “artist of friendship” and a person who brings people together. He is able to move between different worlds, build unlikely bridges and forge true friendships. His network of friends extends across several areas, including economists, bankers, industrialists and artists.
He has a restless spirit and a passion for the visual arts, and is also one of Di Cavalcanti's collectors. He is also a car collector.
José Marcio Rego has an encyclopedic knowledge and moves from the visual arts to economic science in a natural way. He is an evangelical and a profound connoisseur of the New and Old Testament. Subtle irony and refined humor permeate his attitudes. For example, he said he avoids the “regotrip”…
José Marcio Rego advanced the debate in Brazil by demonstrating a great interest in rhetoric in economics. He organized important works on the subject and sought to bring to the Brazilian public debate a profound reflection on the bridges between the intellectual and his spaces of power.
Despite his vast experience and knowledge, José Marcio Rego prefers to work behind the scenes, participating in important processes in Brazilian politics in a discreet and influential manner. He has never sought important positions in government.
José Marcio Rego, as an “intellectual entrepreneur”, focused on topics relevant to Brazilian economic thought. He contributed to the advancement of the debate on inflation, rhetoric, the history of economic thought and development, always seeking to promote the dissemination of ideas in a pluralistic manner.
He has friends like Antônio Delfim Netto (1928-2024) and Persio Arida – authors present in the collection –, seen as conservatives. When they occupied important positions in the government, during the dictatorship and in the FHC government, they were decisive.
The rebirth of political parties after the military dictatorship caused a partisan divide among economists. Professors and researchers from different schools (FGV Rio, PUC-Rio, Unicamp, FGV São Paulo, etc.) sought solutions to inflation, but disagreed on the means. Some advocated heterodox measures, such as the price freeze of the Cruzado Plan, while others advocated more orthodox measures, such as controlling public finances and monetary tightening.
The different interpretations of Brazil, such as that of “agrarian vocation” and that of “national development”, antecedents of neoliberalism and new social developmentalism, reflected antagonistic political positions.
José Marcio Rego, as a mediator and convener of these dissenting voices, played a crucial role in uniting a heterogeneous group of economists, from Marxists to neoliberals, fostering debate and building bridges between different perspectives. He organized collections of articles and broadened public debate by building a coalition among supporters of democracy.
Today, the challenge is to confront the polarization between hate speeches. When some support the breaking of the democratic social pact, intolerance leads to both theoretical and political divergence. José Marcio Rego also tries to promote dialogue and the dissemination of different perspectives. It is necessary to “turn this sad page” in our history…
*Fernando Nogueira da Costa He is a full professor at the Institute of Economics at Unicamp. Author, among other books, of Brazil of banks (EDUSP). [https://amzn.to/4dvKtBb]
Reference
Luis Felipe Labert Cosac (org.). Seams of thought - Festschrift José Márcio Rego: Texts in honor of his 70th birthday. New York, 2025.
The launch in São Paulo will be this Friday, March 14, starting at 18:00 pm, at the FGV Auditorium [Avenida 9 de Julho, 2029].
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