VANTAGENS COMPARATIVAS DA ÁREA METROPOLITANA DE BELO HORIZONTE NO CONTEXTO NACIONAL

Abstract

The globalization system both universalizes and fragments the world space makin unequalities increase. The development of information and communication technology and the spreading of services reinforce urban centrality as indicated by the phenomenon of the so called world cities. In Brazil, the loss of relative importance and the change in the function of the two principal metropolitan areas (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo ) as the result of industry polarization inversion, increases the relative importance of other cities , like those located in the Center-South region , mainly Curitiba and Belo Horizonte . The demographic and economic dynamics of these two cities , their location advantages , the growth of services and the great amount of industry investments there , indicate they have the greatest potentiality of relative expansion among the Brazilian metropolitan areas.