it was in his adoptive country where he began his professional career, by teaching economics at the school of sociology and politics in são paulo. in 1944, he became economic adviser at the federation of industries of the state of são paulo. in 1949 he then moved to washington, d.c. and joined the staff of the imf, as assistant chief of the latin american division in the research department. he left after just two years to return to brazil to organize the brazilian institute of economics at the getúlio vargas foundation in rio de janeiro. he later was an adviser to finance minister eugenio gudin. by this time, he was one of the leading figures in brazilian economics, known for his intellectual prowess and keen wit, and had developed a worldwide reputation.