Abstract

The volume emphasizes the need to rethink cities and to imagine a better urban future by providing the reader with diverse perspectives on urbanization such as the changing economic landscape, city competitiveness, entrepreneurship, inclusion, informality, sustainability, and provision of essential services.

Abstract

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) The fast expansion of urban areas poses challenges for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies who want to provide products to small retailers, especially in the last-mile delivery, which is a complex process that is hindered by factors such as transit regulations; city infrastructure; and safety. These factors have different levels of impact, between high-income and low-income neighborhoods and are more evident in megacities in developing countries, where it exists a clear division between classes. On one hand, governments do not attend low-income neighborhoods, where it exists a strong presence of unsafe areas, lack of planning, and infrastructure that hinders the deliveries of FMCG. On the other hand, traffic regulations in high-income neighborhoods make the delivery process more complex. This study aims to analyze the urban logistics by comparing lowincome and high-income neighborhoods in Sao Paulo city, by taking into account local businesses, buying consumer behavior, and the distribution process. To achieve this, a questionnaire in loco will be applied to the stakeholders involved (consumers, small retailers, and carriers). The data will be analyzed by employing descriptive statistics in an exploratory and descriptive way. The results from small retailers, consumers, and carriers reveal that in their point of view the delivery of products is different between BOP and TOP. Factors such as the infrastructure of the neighborhoods hinder the delivery of products from companies to small retailers in TOP regions, while in BOP regions small retailers' security and infrastructure are the major problems in the point of view of the actors. The fast expansion of urban areas poses challenges for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies who want to provide products to small retailers, especially in the last-mile delivery, which is a complex process that is hindered by factors such as transit regulations; city infrastructure; and safety. These factors have different levels of impact, between high-income and low-income neighborhoods and are more evident in megacities in developing countries, where it exists a clear division between classes. On one hand, governments do not attend low-income neighborhoods, where it exists a strong presence of unsafe areas, lack of planning, and infrastructure that hinders the deliveries of FMCG. On the other hand, traffic regulations in high-income neighborhoods make the delivery process more complex. This study aims to analyze the urban logistics by comparing lowincome and high-income neighborhoods in Sao Paulo city, by taking into account local businesses, buying consumer behavior, and the distribution process. To achieve this, a questionnaire in loco will be applied to the stakeholders involved (consumers, small retailers, and carriers). The data will be analyzed by employing descriptive statistics in an exploratory and descriptive way. The results from small retailers, consumers, and carriers reveal that in their point of view the delivery of products is different between BOP and TOP. Factors such as the infrastructure of the neighborhoods hinder the delivery of products from companies to small retailers in TOP regions, while in BOP regions small retailers' security and infrastructure are the major problems in the point of view of the actors. CNPJ00.394.445/0191-12

Abstract

In the literature many definitions of megacities and mega-regions are proposed (Urena et al., 2009; Pagliara et al., 2011). For example, Hall (2009) defines a mega city region as a ?series of cities physically separated but functionally networked clustered around one or more larger central cities and are connected with dense flows of people and information using important transport infrastructures?. Transport infrastructures and services are fundamental either for the emergence or the proper functioning of mega cities and regions. High Speed Rail systems are definitely today considered as important infrastructures. By impacting strongly on accessibility patterns, they have revolutionized users? life style together with their mobility behavior thanks to their power of shrinking spaces and shaping places. This contribution is based on the recognition that commuting flows are not enough to justify the formation of a megacity or a mega-region. Even if they can contribute to it, they don?t justify the development of a megapolis. A theoretical model should be specified in order to explain the mechanisms through which metro areas integrate into mega-regions and to understand what is the real role of HSR systems as a variable of this model. This paper attempts to fill this gap, present in the literature, and identify some European corridors having high potential for mega-region formation as supported by High Speed Rail. Examples can be found in France, in Spain and in Italy as well. To achieve this objective, this paper will rely on a thorough literature review aimed at the identification of the possible causal relations between changes in accessibility induced by HSR and the emergence of megacities and megaregions. Moreover a first attempt of specifying the model is proposed. Indeed regression models are defined, where the dependent variables are described in terms of commuting flows, travel time and travel cost of the competing transport modes between metro areas, variables connected with HSR, i.e. comfort, speed, low environmental impact, etc. will be considered as well. Other factors influencing the formation of megacities and megaregions will be introduced and tested. Among them economic variables like the number of jobs, the GDP, etc. Further perspectives should consider that this construct should be tested and synthesized in mathematical terms and then calibrated with the collection of real data.