Influence of public spending on the strengthening of the centrality of Pau dos Ferros/state of Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract The new centralities started to play a more prominent role in the Brazilian urban network in the 2000s. The city of Pau dos Ferros, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, stood out by expanding its regional influence between 2003 and 2014. The purpose of this text is to understand how public spending has strengthened the regional centrality of Pau dos Ferros. The hypothesis discussed here is that public spending is a fundamental element to guarantee the urban--regional integration of intermediate cities located in the non-metropolitan areas of Northeastern Brazil. The conclusion is that, among public expenditures, those directed to higher education were decisive for the municipality of Pau dos Ferros to achieve greater regional relevance.