Abstract
The present paper aims to debate the formation process of contemporary Brazil into the modern world-system framework through the institution of the market economy as a mechanism of social regulation. Therefore, it explores the forms of sociability inherited from the colonial period and analyses the unstabilizing tensions which involve the Brazilian State building process, and the organization of land and labor markets. The paper argues that the study of livelihood economy is central to understand the transition to contemporary Brazil. From the livelihood, it is possible to apprehend the tensions over and by the State in the institution process of the capitalist mode of production in Brazil.
Keywords
Capitalism; World-system; Economic development; Brazil; Sociability; Market economy