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Preface
Although governance problems in Brazil at the federal, state, and local levels are well known, less attention has been given to cases in which the government works well. Without denying, hiding, or minimizing the serious policy flaws and the unfortunate existence of dishonest politicians and public officials tampering with public funds in a country characterized by a great deal of social injustice, this book takes a different course by striking a more positive tone regarding what governments can do to promote the common good. Having as a backdrop the sweeping transformations that took place in Brazil in the last quarter of the 20th century as a result of intense urbanization, modernization, and industrialization, this work assesses the challenges and opportunities city governments face in addressing the numerous shortcomings of urban life in the largest Latin American country.