Industrialização e desenvolvimento socioeconômico em Imperatriz do Maranhão: exercício de avaliação por meio de índice não tradicional

Abstract

This study focused on studying industrialization and socio-economic development in the city of Imperatriz, state of Maranhão, being assessed by a non-traditional index. Analysis occurred from 2008 to 2017. The proposed research problem sought to answer the question: was the industrialization process in the city of Imperatriz sufficient to demonstrate socio-economic growth and development? The general objective of the research was to measure the socio-economic development of Imperatriz, in the period before, during and after implementation of a pulp and paper industry, through elaboration of an index that would allow assessing aspects related to the city`s economy, education, health, and housing. The study considered secondary data of 27 variables grouped into two dimensions, which resulted in five partial indexes that, together, resulted in the general index. To obtain the results, data were collected that represented the economic and social dimensions of development, in which the methodology adapted from Martins and Cândido (2008) was used to construct and analyze the Sustainable Development Index for Municipalities (Índice de Desenvolvimento Sustentável para Municípios, abbreviated IDSM) to build the Economic and Social Performance Index of Imperatriz (Índice de Desempenho Econômico e Social de Imperatriz, abbreviated IDESI). In view of the results, it was concluded that establishing a multinational pulp and paper industry in Imperatriz generated economic growth, but only in the period of construction of the factory, not being able to improve the quality of life of the population, a fact confirmed by reduction of indicators that dealt with the social dimension in the same period in which there was growth. On the other hand, it was found that only from 2015 there were improvements in the quality of life, through increase of indexes portrayed of the social dimension. Thus, industrialization was not enough to leverage the socioeconomic development of Imperatriz, since it was not possible to affirm that increase in rates assessing the well-being of the population, which occurred from 2015, was influenced only by industry implementation