Cities Transformed

Flying into Sa ~o Paulo on a clear day, one can easily understand why this city has been called the locomotive that pulls the rest of Brazil. With a population in ex- cess of 15 million, it is the largest city of the Southern Hemisphere. From its cen- ter thrust impressive clusters of modern buildings; beyond them the metropolitan complex stretches as far as the eye can see. This is the foremost industrial center of Latin America, and a dominant presence in finance and trade. Sa ~o Paulo is home to Brazil’s automobile industry, and accounts for much of its manufacturing in sectors as diverse as computers, electrical and mechanical appliances, chem- icals and pharmaceuticals, textiles, furniture, and processed foods. With about one-tenth of Brazil’s population, the city generates one-third of the country’s net national product. In addition to being an economic powerhouse, Sa ~o Paulo is a force in culture and intellectual debate, the site of four universities, a medical school, and many important museums. In economics, politics, and the arts, writes Alves (2003), “Sa ~o Paulo has become an exporter of ideas.”