Urban sprawl and poverty suburbanization in Sí£o Paulo metropolitan region: empirical evidences

Abstract

The urban evolution of Sí£o Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil between the years of 1960 and 2000 indicates an urban sprawl process defined as leapfrogging, a not concentrated and not dense urban growth. To make evident its existence as an urban sprawl index it has been proposed an analyzing urban area maps, the evolution of population and jobs density and the evolution of density gradients. Its determinants are searched using econometric analysis. Results point out that there was urban sprawl in the most recent period of time and show the link between this phenomenon and the occupation of suburbs by low income families.