The Creation of Metropolitan Regions in Brazil: political, institutional, and regional factors

The present work aims to analyze the creation of metropolitan regions based on political, institutional, and regional factors that influence their diffusion after the 1988 Constitution. Four states were analyzed based on elements of the theory of public policy diffusion: Alagoas, Paraiba, Paran & aacute; and Santa Catarina. Qualitative research was used, determined by the observation of complementary state laws, semi-structured interviews with political leaders, and state bureaucracy, as well as cartographic analysis. The results showed that the creation of metropolitan regions in these states has as a key explanation the performance of political entrepreneurs in search of economic advantages in the dispute for resources or municipalities capacity expansion to insert themselves in the list of policies linked to the legal condition of metropolitan entities, to receive financing and participate in policies. This happened without meeting technical criteria and without the development of adequate functional and management structures such as metropolitan companies, participatory councils, and financing funds. In consonance with the analysis of the cases, it is possible to conclude that the institutionalization of metropolitan regions was a strategy of state politicians targeting resources for municipalities without attention to inter-federate governance of a public function of common interest among federated entities.