THE CENTRALIZATION OF CAPITAL IN THE PROPERTY SECTOR AND THE RESTRUCTURING OF METROPOLITAN AREAS

Abstract IFollowing the recent changes in Brazil's real estate industry, many researches have focused on the economic and socio-spatial effects of the appearence of large, nationally-operating business groups. In discussing the economic forces behind this expansion of a small group of developers, it is common (though implicit) the understanding that the centralization of capital was delayed in this sector due to regional elites' capacity to preserve the property sector as an exclusive field for the operation of their capitals. While recognizing that the argument may be partially valid, we argue that the late development of large property business groups results, primarily, from the unique character of property as a commodity, which creates obstacles to the centralization of capital in the real estate sector. The paper is divided into three sections. Initially, we offer a few theoretical signposts around the concept of centralization of capital. Then, in the second part, we discuss the economic circumstances that differentiate the centralization of capital in the real estate sector. Finally, we consider the relevance of the concept of centralization to deal with recent changes in urban areas.