Major City in NEE/LIC Case Study — Rio de Janeiro

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Brazil;
Atlantic Coast;
23ºS, 43ºW;
Grown around large natural bay: Guanabara Bay;
Rio is cultural capital of Brazil, with over 50 museums, and famous annual carnival;
UNESCO World Heritage Site

Question 2

Regional Importance

Answer 2

High private investment;
High levels of spending;
Public-private partnerships;
From 2012-2013: RS 98 - 823 per person

Question 3

Migration Factors Contributing to City’s Growth

Answer 3

Push Factors:
- Few job opportunities;
- Low wages;
- Difficult and unprofitable farming;
- No land ownership;
- Lack of social amenities;
- Sense of isolation;
- Natural Hazards, eg, droughts
Pull Factors;
- Job opportunities;
- Higher wages;
- Better schools and hospitals;
- Better housing and services (water, electricity, sewage;
- Better social life;
- Better transport and communications

Question 4

National Importance

Answer 4

• Visa applications doubled;
• 1.6 million tourists;
• $137 million total from film industry in Brazil;
• Tourism = 50% GDP;
• 2nd most important industrial center —> 5% Brazil’s GDP;

Question 5

Global Importance

Answer 5

• Main manufacturing industries: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, processed foods;
• Main service industries: banking, finance, insurance;
• Booming economy due to oil discoveries + hosting competitions (2014 Football World Cup + 2016 Olympics);
• $7.3 billion of FDI;
• 5 ports + 3 airports;
• Main exports: coffee, sugar, iron ore

Question 6

Rio City Zones

Answer 6

North: main industrial + port area, (international) airport, (Maracaña) stadium, low quality housing, favelas, (Tijuca) National Park;
West: modern, luxury apartments, recreational + tourist facilities, malls, commercial;
Center: old town, CBD (commercial), main shopping area, financial area, headquarters of oil and mining companies (Petrobas + CVBB), congestion, high population density;
South: beaches, touristic (Ipanema + Copacabana), relatively modern buildings, green, well-maintained, overlooked by Rocinha (favela)

Question 7

Social Challenges and Solutions: Healthcare

Answer 7

In 2013, 55% of city had local family health clinic, service in West zone for elderly + pregnant women very poor;

Medical staff took kits to people’s homes in Santa Maria favela and detected 20 diseases and treated them —> infant mortality decreased, life expectancy increased;

Question 8

Social Challenges and Solutions: Education

Answer 8

Half of children attend school after 14 y-o, shortage of nearby schools, lack of money, shortage of teachers, low wages for teachers, poor training for teachers;

Authorities encouraged locals to volunteer in schools, school grants to families whose children stay in school (poor families to pay for school), money available for sport activities (volleyball, football, swimming, squash in Rocinha), opening university in Rocinha favela

Question 9

Social Challenges and Solutions: Water Supply

Answer 9

12% population no access to water, 37% lost through leaky pipes, fraud and illegal access;

7 water treatments built 1998-2014, 300km pipes improve quality and quantity, by 2014, 95% population had access to mains water supply

Question 10

Social Challenges and Solutions: Energy

Answer 10

Frequent blackouts (shortage of electricity), illegal tapping in poorer areas (risky and unsafe);

60km power lines, new nuclear generator, developing hydro-electric complex (Simplício) increase supply by 30%

Question 11

Economic Challenges and Solutions: Unemployment

Answer 11

Rate over 20%, most work in informal sector (without government support);

Education reduces youth unemployment, practical skills-based courses (for adults too)

Question 12

Social Challenges and Solutions: Crime

Answer 12

Murder, kidnapping, carjacking, armed assault occur regularly, drug trafficking and gangs in favelas;

In 2013, Pacifying Police Units (PPUs) established in favelas, in 30 smaller favelas and Complexo Alemão

Question 13

Environmental Challenges and Solutions: Water Pollution

Answer 13

Rivers flowing into Guanabara Bay are polluted, commercial fishing declined by 90% in last 20 years, over 50 tonnes industrial waster enters bay/day, oil spills from Petrobas oil refinery, eutrophication in Lagos Rodrigo channel;

12 new sewage works built since 2004, ships fined for illegal discharging fuel, 5km sewage pipes installed in badly polluted areas

Question 14

Environmental Challenges and Solutions: Traffic Congestion

Answer 14

Steep slopes make hard to build roads so lowland roads become congested, 40% cars increase in last decade, crime makes people feel safer getting around in cars;

Subway expansion under Guanabara Bay to South zone, new toll roads in city center, coast roads are one-way during rush-hours improves traffic flow

Question 15

Environmental Challenges and Solutions: Waste Pollution

Answer 15

Worst in favelas, few roads make hard for waste collection, waste is dumped and pollutes water and encourages spread of diseases (cholera) and rats;

Power plant near University of Rio uses methane gas (biogas) from rotting garbage —> consumes 30 tonnes garbage/day, produces electricity for 1000 homes

Question 16

Social Opportunities: Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

Answer 16

51% population is white, 36% multi-racial, 12% black, 0.9% asian, 0.1% Amerindian —> foods, customs, religions

Question 17

Social Opportunities

Answer 17

• Water: 7 water treatments built 1998-2014, 300km pipes improve quality and quantity, by 2014, 95% population had access to mains water supply;
• Energy: 60km power lines, new nuclear generator, developing hydro-electric complex (Simplício) increase supply by 30%;
• Education: 19/50 best schools in country in Rio, 65% of those employed have completed high school degree;
• Healthcare: Healthcare is free, over 28,000 hospital beds and 3,700 healthcare units

Question 18

Economic Opportunities

Answer 18

• National Importance: 6% of all employment in Brazil, 2nd most important industrial center after Sao Paulo, 5% Brazil’s GDP;
• Industry: $7.3 billion of FDI, 85% all films produced in Brazil made in Rio, largest oil producer (Petrobas), main manufacturing industries: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, processed foods, coffee/iron ore/sugar exports;
• Tourism: 1.6 million/year, beaches/view (Ipanema, Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer), 50% GDP, UNESCO World Heritage Site, increase spending power in area;
• Global Importance: FIFA World Cup 2014, 2016 Summer Olympics