Final answer:
Brazil's wealth is concentrated in the hands of a minority elite, with multinational corporations exploiting development activities. The early nineteenth-century push towards independence was influenced by the presence of the royal Braganza family and external threats, which unified the nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical wealth distribution in Brazil significantly favors a minority elite, with the wealthy owning most land and businesses, thus controlling a substantial portion of the nation's wealth.
This wealth imbalance is indicative of the broader pattern of corporate colonialism, where multinational corporations exploit Brazil's resources and development for profit, but little of this economic gain trickles down to the broader society.
In the early nineteenth century, Brazil's steps toward independence were shaped by several forces, including the influence of the Braganza royal family and the external threat from Portugal which helped to unify the country under the monarchy.