PERSPECTIVAS DA GESTÃO LOCAL DO DESENVOLVIMENTO: AS EXPERIÊNCIAS DE SALVADOR E PORTO ALEGRE

Abstract

Since the 80’s, the discussions concerning the possibilities of local management of economic development have been increasing in European, North American and Latin American countries. The redefinition of the State’s role and the growth of unemployment are some of the factors which ex-plain the increasing economic initiatives at the local field. A preliminary bibliographic search demonstrates that experiments in management of local development are originating two theoretical lines about the theme, namely competitive approach and social approach. Both of them reflect the different projects in local development. The current study, a product of an ongoing research, discusses perspectives for the local management of the economic development in Brazil, focusing on the following themes: the direction of the economic initiatives which have been adopted; the role played by the local development policies among all municipal policies and the possible impacts on the local economy. Considering the pointed out subjects, two cases will be analyzed: the experiences of Salvador and Porto Alegre in the 90’s. Starting from the theoretical context, local development views assumed by the local governments of those cities are shown, emphasizing the problems regarding social exclusion and urban competitiveness. So, the economic initiatives that have been accomplished are ...