DESENVOLVIMENTO COMO LIBERDADE: UMA ANÁLISE DOS IMPACTOS DA INDÚSTRIA DE PAPEL E CELULOSE A PARTIR DA PERCEPÇÃO DA POPULAÇÃO LOCAL

Abstract

The theory of Development as Freedom, by Amartya Sen, proposes an approach that goes beyond traditional economic indicators, emphasizing the expansion of people’s real capabilities and freedoms as a measure of development. In this dissertation, this perspective is employed to achieve the specific objective of characterizing, from the perspective of the population of Ribas do Rio Pardo-MS, the impacts of the introduction and expansion of forestry and industrial activities on their instrumental freedoms. The research seeks to understand how these transformations have influenced the population’s instrumental freedoms, especially in the dimensions of economic facilities, social opportunities, and protective security. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire applied to long-term residents (who already lived in the municipality before the arrival of the industry) and new residents (who migrated after its establishment), enabling a comparative analysis between the two groups. The closed-ended questions were analyzed using the Likert Scale. The analysis reveals progress in areas such as job creation, professional training, and access to services, but also highlights challenges such as increased social inequality, housing difficulties, and pressures on public services. Finally, the study proposes guidelines for municipal and state public policies that promote development based on the expansion of individuals’ real freedoms, considering the perceptions of the affected population itself. Keywords: Development as freedom; pulp and paper industry; instrumental freedoms; Ribas do Rio Pardo; social impacts.