Abstract
This essay attempts to examine and evaluate the work of Celso Furtado on economic development in the light of the modern literature on this field. It presents the subject under the perspective of the historical context in which Furtado developed his work. A brief summary of his life and work is presented, as well as the international economic development scenario of the second half of the 20th century in which he produced his work. It also analyses the role of ECLA and the evolution of the economic thought of this School. In the continuation of the essay, Furtado is judged from the view point of his participation in the political life of Brazil, and his main economic ideas are outlined. The last part makes a comparison analysis between Furtado's economic development view and the prevailing thinking under the light of modern economic growth and development theories. The essays ends by highlighting the importance of Furtado, and concludes that his ideas have to be evaluated in the context of the economic ideas that were produced in the following two decades after World War II.