Local Productive Arrangements in Brazil: International Models, National Policies and Territorial Challenges in Paraná

Abstract

This article examines the trajectory of Local Productive Arrangements (LPAs) in Brazil, highlighting their theoretical origins — such as the Italian industrial districts and North American clusters — and their subsequent incorporation into national public policies since the 1990s. Through bibliographic review and document analysis, the study discusses the adaptation of the model to the Brazilian context and its territorial unfoldings, with a particular focus on the experience of the state of Paraná. The concept of geographicity is used to reflect on the limits and potentials of LPAs as strategies for territorial regional development. Using the case of the knitwear LPA in Imbituva-PR, the paper questions the model's effectiveness in the face of challenges such as institutional discontinuity and weak local governance. Rather than offering a conclusive assessment, the article proposes an open research agenda and emphasizes the need for updated empirical studies to evaluate the actual impacts of LPAs validated in Paraná nearly two decades ago. In doing so, it seeks to contribute to critical diagnoses and to support the formulation of public policies that are more sensitive to territorial specificities, in light of the contemporary socioeconomic, technological, and environmental challenges faced by Brazil.