But growth also brought inflation, which crippled Brazil until the mid-1990s and still accounts for some odd characteristics, such as the country's painfully high interest rates and its disinclination to save.
"And we've certainly seen by deed, over the last four days, a disinclination to meet the ultimatum that was laid down on Saturday afternoon by the United Nations and NATO, " Burns said.
But one cannot help wondering whether Mr George's views are coloured by a disinclination to see the Bank of England relegated to the status of a branch office of the European central bank.
It is not the first time the heir apparent of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has spoken about his disinclination to become the prime minister in the event of his party winning the general elections.
The fundamental lesson of American political economy since the halcyon days of the industrial revolution is that our economic greatness issues from the disinclination of the government to intervene in our monetary and fiscal affairs.