1 Social Networks, Poverty and Neighborhoods in Two Brazilian Cities

The article builds upon previous research findings about the role of social networks in the reproduction of poverty, taking into consideration the access of poor individuals to goods and services obtained through market or social support and exchange. The previous research studied the personal networks of 209 poor individuals and 30 middle-class individuals in seven locations in São Paulo. This paper includes the results of 153 personal networks of individuals in poverty who live in five different locations in the City of Salvador, Bahia. The article comparatively discusses the characteristics of poor people’s personal networks in São Paulo and Salvador. In general, the results confirm previous findings regarding the diversity and the importance of networks in living conditions, especially considering the content and diversity of sociability. On the other hand, the article explores differences between the cities to discuss dimensions of migration, race, housing conditions, and tenure situations that could not be stressed in the previous research