A TRAJETÓRIA DA INDUSTRIALIZAÇÃO E DESCONCENTRAÇÃO INDUSTRIAL NO BRASIL

transformações econômicas e industriais em São Lourenço do Oeste

Abstract

Abstract: Industrialization in Brazil, initially concentrated in the Southeast, began to expand to other regions from the 1970s, driven by public policies and improvements in infrastructure. In São Lourenço do Oeste, this expansion facilitated the transition from an agricultural and extractive economy to a robust industrial sector, supported by small business initiatives. The aim of this study was to analyze Brazil's geoeconomic dynamics, focusing on western Santa Catarina, specifically in São Lourenço do Oeste. To achieve this, a bibliographic research was conducted, complemented by fieldwork in the municipality, particularly in the São Francisco neighborhood, where the Kellogg's/Parati factory is located. The fieldwork allowed for the investigation of the infrastructure and industrial distribution in this area. The results showed that São Lourenço do Oeste's economic transformation is linked to Small Commodity Production, the influence of the deconcentration of Brazilian industry, and economic adaptation in the face of the 1980s crisis and the crisis triggered by Operation Car Wash. Additionally, the acquisition of Parati by the multinational Kellogg's was analyzed as an example of how foreign capital plays a central role in local economic reorganization. Despite the economic challenges brought on by these crises, São Lourenço do Oeste managed to sustain industrial growth, as evidenced by the increase in GDP and economic diversification, consolidating itself as a dynamic industrial municipality in western Santa Catarina.