It is an exploratory research on the relation between new Information and
Communication Technologies (ICT), banking and intra-urban structures through the
analysis of the changes observed in these services in the last three decades and
spatial distribution of their channels of service in the Belém Metropolitan Region (BMR). From conceptual analysis on the new ICTs, it is discussed the relations that have been established between these technologies and the urban space, placing banking services in the context of changes induced by them and analyzing them in relation to Brazil. Among the works that discuss the structure of urban space, it was not identified studies about the consequences of ICTs on this space specifically, nor analysis on the process of intra-urban structuring of BMR. It was searched support in theories of the bank firm location in intra-urban space, which also resulted in a fruitless search. It was decided to conduct an empirical research from the addresses of service channels in two stages: one that deals with the agencies in the period from 1980 to 2010 and the other that covers all the service channels during the course of 2010, for which was developed a sample. The analysis of the maps, tables and graphs, which were created from those addresses, allowed to conclude that new ICTs have enabled the increased quantity and quality of banking services, as well as the diversification of customer service channels, highlighting the virtual access to services. It was found that the spatial location of bank services points has suffered a significant process of decentralization and, through the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and correspondent banks, reached the areas of trade and services of neighborhood, where they are predominantly located, at the expense of subcentralities that were identified. It is questioned the consequences of the
unnecessary displacement to the structuring process of the intra-urban Brazilian
metropolises and pointed future research developments.
|
