Cities and creative class in Brazil: spatial differences in the distribution of qualified individuals in Brazilian municipalities

Abstract

Based on the idea that regional studies should be addressed jointly through economic and cultural aspects, and based empirically on indicators proposed by Florida, numerous indicators of the distribution of qualified individuals were used to compare municipalities in Brazil. Cluster and descriptive analyses showed that some municipalities showed higher values for a number of indicators, including São Caetano do Sul (SP), Niterói (RJ) and Florianópolis (SC). Econometric analyses indicated that more urbanized municipalities with larger populations, located in the southern, southeastern and center-western regions, and with larger industrial and services sectors, tend to show higher proportions of workers in the creative economy or who show higher indicators of qualified individuals. Florida’s hypothesis, which suggests that municipalities with more vibrant atmospheres also concentrate this type of individuals, was not corroborated by these studies.