Albert Hirschman, Celso Furtado and Brazilian Regional Planning

The diffusion of economic ideas has often been studied from a center-to-periphery perspective, but less attention has been given to the reverse process. This paper examines the intellectual exchange between Albert Hirschman and Celso Furtado, showing how Furtado’s insights on regional planning influenced Hirschman’s work. Using correspondence, interviews, and published works, the study argues that their interaction shaped key aspects of The Strategy of Economic Development and Journeys Toward Progress. This challenges conventional narratives, highlighting the bidirectional nature of intellectual exchanges in economic thought.