Portugal
Background-Portugal in the 1755 earthquake, lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon, and the independence of its wealthiest colony of Brazil in 1822. In 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. Then in 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal gave independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC which is now knowen as the EU. In January 2011, Portugal assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.
Economy-Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors in over the last two decades. The country qualified for the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998. A poor educational system and a rigid labor market have been one of the many things to get in the way of having a greater productivity and growth. There labor force is 11.7% for agriculture, 28.5% for industry, and 59.8% for services. There Unemployment rate is 9.5% and 10.8% compared to the rest of the world. For ages 15-24 the unemployment rate for males is 18.64%, 21.56% for females, and 20% total. Portugals population below the poverty line is 18%. Portugal's budget in 2010 is $116.1 billion and $95.09 billion in revenues. Household incomes are 28.4% at the highest in 1995 and 3.1% in the lowest. There public debt is 93% of GDP in 2010 compared to the rest of the world and 83% of GPD in 2009. Portugal's taxes are 41.5% of GPD since 2010 compared to the rest of the world. One of the most important things in portugal's ecomnoy is there agriculture products including cattle, goats, dairy products, sheep, potatoes, olives, grain, tomatoes, poultry, fish, and grapes. Another important part of there ecomnoy is industries including porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, dairy products, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, textiles, clothing, wine and other foods, telecommunications, footwear and toursim. Portugal has also been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a destination for foreign direct investment. There import commodities include vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, and chemicals ect. Portugal's low growth prospects, low competitiveness, and levels of public debt have made it harder to bond market turbulence. The GDP increase of portugal over time, may help mitigate investor concerns.
Government-Portugal's country name is Portuguese Republic which is also knowen as Portugal. Its local long form name is Republica Portuguesa. There flag is two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation. There National anthem is"A Portugesa" (The Song of the Portuguese). Its govenment type is republic; parliamentary democracy. Captial name is Libson its national holiday is Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580). Portugal's consitution was adopted on the 2 April in 1976 and subsequently revised. There lagal system is civial law, suffrage 18 years of age, political pressure groups and leaders include the media; labor unions. There international organations include the ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,