The concomitant evolution and stagnation of the Brazilian building industry

This paper analyses the development of the Brazilian building industry, and compares it to the situation of its counterparts throughout the developing world. It argues that the regime of accumulation prevailing in Brazil has played a major role in shaping the development of the building industry. The paper also points out that the recent trends detected in Brazil are bound to occur, to a greater or lesser extent, in other lesser developed countries. Finally, it argues that, although the Brazilian case could lead to the conclusion that the withdrawal of the state from the building scene is a necessary and positive step, this approach should not be used as a panacea.