URBANIZAÇÃO E POLÍTICA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL NO ESTADO DA BAHIA

Resumen

The objective of this paper is to analyse the development process of a system of cities and its repercussion in the formation of a spatial - economic strategy, in ao underdeveloped regioo. Starting from the principie that cities play ao importaot fole in the organization of the geographic-economic space, the knowledge of lhe develQpment process is necessary in arder to formulate planning measures. The first part analyses the urban growth in the period of 1940/1980 when the progressive improvement of a typical primate struclure, composed by one metropolis and very small towns, evolves to anolher one where intermediate cities of different sizes are incorporated. These dynamic processes of urbanization, metropolization and diffusion of cities of differenl sizes are compared. This is accomplished with a rank/size graph, for the period of 1940/1980, when there is an expressive change towards equilibrium in the urban system. The graph also shows the necessity of strongly supporting a series of intermediate cities. A better distribution of cities is emphasized with lhe help from cartography.

Based on this analysis, a spatial - economic strategy is proposed consisting of two points. In the first place, incentives should exist for a major relationship of the economy of lhe Salvador Metropolitan Region with the other regions of the State, aiming at the growth of the economy of the State of Bahia as a whole. The second strategy is lhe strengthening of the intermediate cities beca use of their important role in the process of production and distribution of goods and services all over the State. In conclusion, the necessity of maximizing the benefits of the extra-regional relations and also the importance of stimulating the intra-regional relations is stressed. This should produce tonditions for an effective regional developrnent.