A noção de municípios periféricos : contradições e desigualdades no estado do Paraná

Abstract

This doctoral thesis aims at analyzing the production of space from the contradictions and inequalities found in the state of Paraná and at proposing a theoretical-methodological notion of peripheric municipalities based on the following criteria: depopulation, economic dependence, territorial subordination and critic social indicators. The theoretical discussion and the model developed allowed the classification of the 399 municipalities of the state into four groups: highly dynamic, dynamic, intermediate and peripheric. Seven peripheric municipalities were chosen for data collecting taking into consideration the number of their inhabitants - less than five thousand inhabitants (Brasilândia do Sul, Cruzeiro do Iguaçu, Farol, Godoy Moreira, Mato Rico, Nova América da Colina and Sulina). The empirical analysis revealed so many and intense social problems that it was possible to characterize and confirm and them as peripheric municipalities. The main problem was the depopulation, especially of young people.