The central area commerce in northeastern small city: the case of Varjota free trade - Ceará State/Brazil

Abstract

Productive reorganization imposed by the technological modernization comes increasing the economic weight of tertiary activities, especially in the middle and great cities. However, in many northeast Brazilian small cities, the tertiary boom demonstrates the incapacity of other sectors to absorb the peasants expelled of the traditional farming activities. It’s the Varjota case, small city located in the northwest of Ceará State (Brazil) where the free trade and odd job services are the alternatives for the local population that, with low professional qualification, migrates daily (or definitive form) for the biggest regional centers to look for job and a diversified tertiary. However, location (between mountain and sertão) and poverty population are the main factors that keep the Varjota free trade vitality and sustainable its commercial sub-centre condition of the regional urban network.