Housing Policy and urbanization in Brazil

Abstract

This paper pointed to the fact that the brazilian housing policy has not fully achieved its objectives, in particular that of providing shelter to the poor. Nonetheless, it has paved the way to the establishment and the consolidation of an urban land market, by segregating some areas and valueing them. In this way, the urban space has been rebuilt, materializing the rapid urbanization of large and medium size cities in Brazil. Natal is here an example. Urbanization has been speeded up by national housing policies and has contributed to enhance living conditions said that, it is not possible to argue that living conditions in general have improved in the country. The analysis of other social and economic indicators reveals the contradictions of the brazilian city.