Managing The Megalopolis

2 February 2005 - 12:00pm

Can the mayor of São Paulo, South America's biggest city, steer it to a better future?

With Brazil's economy improving and a 90s era of mayoral corruption behind him, new São Paulo mayor, José Serra plans to build on some of the successful plans and policies of his predecessor and try some new ones in an attempt to improve a city undergoing multiple transitions.New regulations give the city more control over land use, but constitutional and practical limitations prevent a metropolitan government structure that would unite 39 municipalities making up a metropolis of 18 million (São Paulo itself has 10.7 million). "There is a new awareness that all must work together, but the federal and state governments disagree over who should lead. There is an opportunity at last to devise a fairer city. But is there the will?

Source: The Economist, January 27, 2005
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