This article deals with the economic policy of the second Vargas' administration concerned with the development of the Brazilian Northeast. They start from the institution of the Banco do Nordeste do Brasil (Brazilian Bank for the Northeast) to works for implementation of the Paulo Afonso hydroelectric plant and to attempts at establishing a comprehensive economic plan for the Northeastern Region. Such initiatives, together with studies and debates, brought about by efforts from Vargas' economic advisory staff, propitiated a real and critical evaluation of large sized public works for fighting the droughts and favoured the transition for a policy of regional development, started by the end of the '50s.Medidas de política econômica do segundo Governo Vargas. Tentativas de elaborar plano econômico para a região Nordeste. Transição para uma política de desenvolvimento regional (final da década de 50).