Antônio Delfim Netto (born May 1, 1928) is a Brazilian economist, former Minister of Finance, Agriculture, and Planning of Brazil, professor and congressman. During his incumbency as Minister of Finance of Brazil, the country experienced the so-called Milagre Econômico (the Economic Miracle), a time of unprecedented economic growth.
The Milagre Econômico overseen by Delfim Netto relied on a heterodox, developmentalist model. The economic expansion relied on low wages, rapidly rising exports, and foreign capital inflows. Delfim Netto originated the phrase "cake theory" in reference to this model: the cake had to grow before it could be distributed. Although the "cake" in his metaphor did grow, it was highly unequally distributed.