Title: Estado, centrão e empreiteiras: o ensaio republicano de Dilma Rousseff antes da Operação Lava Jato (2007-2014)
Abstract: This work addresses the intersection between economics and politics, using the case of large Brazilian construction companies and their relations with the State (bureaucrats, politicians and parties) to contribute to the explanations about the end of the governing coalition that resulted in the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff in 2016.Through the analysis of documents and testimonies within the scope of Operation Car Wash and conducting interviews, using qualitative analysis and triangulation of information, we seek to show how Rousseff changed the relations between the large construction companies and the Brazilian State that prevailed until then, implementing measures to strengthen the State and reduce anti-competitive schemes that mainly favored a few companies and some "big center" parties.We did this through case studies at the Ministry of Transport, at Petrobras and at large hydroelectric plants.The categories of analysis that we used were anti-competitive alternative practices in public procurement, appointments of political and technical ideal types for positions in ministries, agencies, municipalities and public companies, and the political and bureaucratic circulation of contractors.The results show that the changes in the relationship between State and contractors implemented by Rousseff had effects on the party revenue of the "big center" and the Workers' Party (PT), on the governing coalition and on companies that were successful in public works contracts.