Real estate market, urban planning and social inequalities in mid-sized cities of northern Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil: Passo Fundo and Erechim

Abstract

This work approaches space production in mid-sized cities, aiming at real estate offers, involved agents, and its influence on the social space differentiations and inequalities. The analysis is centered in two polarized cities of Northern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Passo Fundo and Erechim. The study updates research previously conducted, on real estate offers and prices, contemplating the years 2015 and 2020, besides the data already collected referring to 2005 and 2010. The theoretical foundation considered the references to the regional context, the urban network, the characteristics of the mid-sized cities, and the production of the intra-urban space to understand the urban dynamics. The methodology is based on the review of scientific production, the empirical study of real estate offers and prices, and the identification of its market actuation as a hegemonic agent of the capitalist urban logic. The results show a continuous growth of the real estate offers and prices during the years studied, evincing real estate market production, with significant participation of private agents and the State. It is worth noting the COVID-19 pandemic impact, in 2020, which influenced offers, prices, and estate demand, causing changes in the market behavior, economy, and society in general.