Brazil: a New Regional Power in World Economy - Case Study Example

The concept and reality of cities have long been part of the history of humanity. Since the ancient period in Athens and in Rome,  Venice in the Scholastic period Paris and London during the 17th – 18 century, the flourishing of cities have been central in the understanding not only of the economy of a particular milieu but the very condition and quality of life with which humanity chart its story (Alonso- Vilar, 2001). As such, the concept of megacities is not new. However, from the ancient period until the 18th century, megacities are considered a rare phenomenon (Alonso – Vilar, 2001).

However, in the contemporary period, things have changed. Megacities in the current period are still a phenomenon, not because of its rarity but because of its rapid increase in number (Alonso-Vilar, 2001; Gibson & Kong, 2005). It has been noted that from 8 megacities during the 1950s, there are already 41 megacities as of 2000 and it is projected that by the year 2015, there will be 59 megacities all over the world (De Angelo, 2008). In the line of this fact, the paper will focus on Sãu Paulo, Brazil, one of the more popular urban centers in the contemporary world.

In addition, it will try to understand in what way, on what extent does the development of Sãu Paulo reflects, and mirrors Brazil’s national development The continued increase in the number of megacities in the contemporary period is brought about by factors that can be considered as precipitators for change. One essential element that can be claimed to be the prime mover for the inception of megacities is globalization. Globalization is a phenomenon is known only in the history of humanity in the last sixty years (Soros, 2002).

Globalization has created a global market economy founded on the principles of liberalism, free trade and less governmental intervention in the market.