Desconcentração industrial no Brasil nos anos 90: um enfoque regional

Abstract

This paper discusses the trends in Brazilian industrial employment during the nineties. It shows important changes in the manufacturing sector, such as the loss of employment in the main industrial regions and the increasing number of jobs offered in the interior of many states. It also identifies new industrial areas, mostly located in some of the countryís least developed regions. The paper shows that employment grawth is higher in lower-wage regions, which supports the idea that new enterprises look for lower wages. However, increased labour demand in these regions have benefited workers with wage increases above the industry average. These results may indicate a change in the pattern of industrial localization in Brazil, whereby the interior of the country might benefit more from future investments. The new industrial areas seem to be small to medium size agglomerations characterized by low wages and little diversification. But for a definitive position on these changes we will have to wait for the development of the Brazilian industry in the next years.