This Discussion Paper deals with the institutional and economic aspects of the Brazilian federative state according to the 1988 Constitution. The context of vertical coordination of urban infrastructure investments is then examined. Previous studies have shown that the benefits of economic...

The victory of Lula and the PT in Brazilian elections in late 2002 was accompanied by the hope of a refoundation of society and freeing Brazil out of the 'external trap'. The Lula-government argued that Brazil is on the brink of an abyss so that hard measures, like high interest rates and...