Some time ago I wrote about the social apartheid in Brazil, a term that is used to refer to the social inequality in Brazilian cities. Houses of USD 1 million in a side street and in the other slums. Beaches for the poor and beaches for the rich. Better quality of public education for the rich and bad private education for the poor(this issue is so complex that later I’ll write some articles about it).

Finally, Brazil is considered a country that is not typical of Third World (or “developing”, euphemism created by rich countries), but due to large inequalities can not be considered “developed”.

Middle class district in Sao Paulo

However, one element that can be identified as causes of inequality in major cities are regional differences, specifically the difference between north and south and that is why there is “two Brazils”; part of the country with a dynamic economy and high human development index, the other with a completely underdeveloped country. To illustrate the situation well, just see the difference between the HDI of states: the South and Southeast regions have the one hundred more developed municipalities, while the North and Northeast regions have the hundred less developed municipalities.

40 million people live like that in Brazil

If you could come to Brazil to travel by car, you actually could witness this fact, because when you stay away from Sao Paulo state poverty increases gradually and is visible, very visible. The number of slums grows and there are cities in which 70% of population lives without piped water, sanitation, electricity, hospitals, schools and jobs. If in the South and Southeast regions the middle class predominates, in others it is the exception.

Campinas - largest city in “Sao Paulo country side”

In a way I can say that I am lucky. The area where I live is one of the richest regions of the country, highly industrialized and with a high rate of development. Here in Sao Paulo state there are 10 regions with specific characteristics and the government strives to develop each one according to their potential, such as the establishment of technology centers to increase the value of industries and services. One of the most successful examples is the production of ethanol that is being enhanced for 3 decades.

And that is precisely why many call this state of “Republic of Sao Paulo”, although that term could also be used offensively, as Sao Paulo was not part of Brazil, as the Paulistas (people born in Sao Paulo ) were not Brazilians. And, unfortunately, it only encourages the nazi movement, which already I wrote about before.

Children working, a sad reality

However, the economic growth of recent years began to change this scenario, because the poorest regions are finally getting resources and investments so that they can develop properly. Of course, it will take a long time to the social differences between regions become “acceptable”, maybe about 40 years, but the country needs a constant effort for this to become reality. But if not, this division will continue and may increase further, which will inevitably result in a conflict.