Urban policy in Brazil: Mismatches in the social management of land appreciation

In Brazil, there is a clear strengthening of debates about the instruments of City Statute, which are discussed under the light of social management of land appreciation. Their degree of effectiveness, their low popular participation and their use to legitimize policies engendered by particular interests are usually questioned. This paper investigates the capacity of Joint Urban Operations as a instrument for surplus land value recovery. Starting from a study on Faria Lima Urban Operation, limitations and opportunities of Linha Verde Urban Operation (Curitiba-PR), which is being implemented, is prospectively discussed. Analysis performed came up with observations that were, at the same time, complementary and contradictory. On one hand, it is necessary to recognize urban operation’s potential as an instrument able to leverage urban transformation, dividing costs of public action among other stakeholders. On the other hand, however, its low efficiency - from the perspective of social management of land appreciation - is clear, and shows a lack of mechanisms that could ensure a minimal addressing of the funds for constructions of public interest.