Estudo da população ativa fluminense e sua utilização na delimitação das zonas econômicas do Estado

Abstract

On a cartogram of 1950 census data, proportional circles represent the effective population as well as the active population according to counties (municípios). The effective population corresponds to the outer circle and the active population, defined as the population over 10 years of age engaged in lucrative or gainful activity, is divided into sectors according to the various types of activity, as follows: a) Agriculture, cattle-raising and forestry; b) Extrative industries; c) Transforming industries; d) Commerce of goods in general, land and land tenure values, credit, insurance and capitalization; e) Transport, communications and storage; f) Miscellaneous, which includes performance of services, liberal professions, social activities, etc.

            Unpaid domestic activities are excluded as well as inactives, school children and students.

            It may be observed on the cartogram that there is a concentration by zone, in relation to the population and to the predominant types of activities. It is even possible to delimit, four zones: a) The northern "Fluminense" zone, with a relatively large effective population per county. As regards active population, the predominant sector corresponds to cattle-raising and agriculture, important crops being grown. Example: Itaperuna County; b) An intermediate zone, where the effective population is small and the sectors corresponding to cattle-raising, agriculture and extrative industries predominate in so far as the active population is concerned. As an example: Cantagalo County, where extensive cattle-raising, agriculture and extrative industries are the chief activities; c) The zone from Guanabara bay to the Paraíba valley between Três Rios and Resende, with a large effective population and a strong predominance of activities involving transforming: industries, commerce, transport and communications etc. The counties of São Gonçalo and Barra Man&a may be taken as examples; d) The southwestern zone with a small effective population and where cattle-raising, agriculture and the extrative industries predominate. Example: Paratí.

            By comparison with a similar cartogram based on the 1940 census, the relations between modifications in effective population and types of activities can be ascertained. Thus, Barra Mansa, which includes Volta Redonda in 1950, shows an important increase in the population connected with the transforming industries, resulting in a corresponding general increase in population. And indeed, during the 1940-50 period. the predominant types of activities in the Guanabara zone advanced towards the Paraiba valley.

            In conclusion, it is observed that the study of the evolution of the population in relation to vocational activities is very important to the understanding of the economic development of a given geographical area, as well as to the study of the relations between the development of populations and the economy itself.