Inside Rio de Janeiro’s Displacement Industry

Mass displacement often accompanies global sporting events, and Rio de Janeiro is no exception. In the run-up to the World Cup, thousands of the city’s residents have been evicted and resettled. In Rio’s case, however, the displacement won’t stop after the athletes pack up and leave town. In part to stimulate its economy, the country has embarked on a grand housing experiment, selling government-built apartments with subsidized mortgages to millions of favela-dwellers. It’s a radical departure from Brazil’s traditionally progressive housing policy, and has some experts wondering if Rio’s soccer spectacular will leave behind vast new ghettos in its wake.

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