ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reviews the main theoretical approaches to financialization, its linkages with urban studies and planning, as well as the critique that has been raised to the rapidly growing literature. It deals with an analysis of the relevance of such an approach for shedding light on the Brazilian trajectory. The book analyzes the trajectory of the Brazilian developmental state since the 1960s, with an emphasis on the relations between money, credit and finance and the contradictory (re)production of metropolitan spaces. It also deals with suggestions for further research on the entanglements between crisis narratives and the reframing, restructuring and rescaling of the nexus between urban austerity and capital markets. The book explores how planners, financial consultants, contractors and builders/developers effectively shape the contradictory financial and physical design and implementation of Urban (Re)development Projects with CEPACs.
