Brazilian here as well. We have all those problems because there is a lack of opportunity for real growth. Most violence in the country is economically motivated (muggings and carjackings). Under the last three administrations, the government focused on handouts instead of investing in infrastructure (rail, ports, etc.). The handouts got so bad with no additional revenue that the government was becoming insolvent and the rating agencies downgraded the country. The first downgrade was a shot across the bow, but when the second downgrade happened, many international institutional investors had a legal requirement to liquidate their investments and vacate the country. At that point investments dried up and growth slowed to a crawl.

The PT is a cancer in the country and has set the country back 10-20 years at least.