Christiano França da Cunha

Custo de transação e mensuração na escolha da estrutura de governança entre supermercados e produtores agrícolas convencionais e orgânicos no Brasil e nos EUA

It is assumed that the institutional environment has an important role in determining the governance, as this may entail different transaction costs for economic agents. Based on New Institutional Economics (NIE), the objective of this paper was to understand how the transaction costs can influence one of the most important elements of choice of governance structure, the complexity of contractual relationship, and if this influence could vary in distinct institutional environments. For this purpose, the contractual relationship between supermarkets and suppliers of organic and conventional products (fresh fruits and vegetables - FFV) in two different institutional environments (Brazil and the U.S.A) were studied. To test these hypotheses 128 interviews were conducted, which were analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling, with the same theoretical model estimated for the two groups (both countries). The results showed that the influence of transaction costs in the complexity of contractual relationship, and so affecting the choosing among the governance structures, differ depending on the considered institutional environment. It is possible to conclude, in the end of this paper, that there are empirical evidences, demonstrated through the results of this structural equation modeling used, that the institutional environment can alter the influences over complexity of contractual relationship and so in the choice of the governance structure to be used.

Value appropriation in Brazilian cattle industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the influencing factors on cattle breeders’ payment system choices using cross-sectional data collected in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Rio Grande do Sul. The investigation aims to analyze the problem of value appropriation comparing the payment based on carcass index with live weight mode under the perspective of “bovine for slaughtering” as a multidimensional product with various attributes. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a generalized order logistic regression model in a survey with 69 cattle breeders’ interview to conduct the empirical analysis. Findings The empirical results show that measurement difficulties and collective actions influence farmers’ choice to a less efficient payment system in quality terms and value appropriation problems, while the trust level in the slaughterhouse pushes to a more efficient system. Furthermore, trust was presented as more important than technological aspects and long-time relationship as well as collective action corroborates to increase bargaining power and to solve conflicts. In sum, trust, measurement and bargaining power brought traditional and alternative solutions to solve conflicts such as well-designed payment indicators, collective actions and transaction costs. Originality/value This study used first-hand survey and proxy variables on cattle farmers’ payment system choices. Another contribution is the focus on two regions with two different payment systems in the same institutional environment in a way to suggest mechanisms of private strategies and public policy to reduce opportunistic value appropriation as well as decreasing conflict.

Fatores socioeconômicos que influenciam na disposição de consumidores em adquirir carne bovina com certificação de origem em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil

The present study aimed to verify the influence of socioeconomic factors in the provision of 407 consumers in supermarkets in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in purchasing beef with certification of origin and to verify the inherent characteristics of the product that help the consumer at the time of purchase, considering their prior knowledge about traceability and certification of origin. A descriptive analysis of all variables was performed and a univariate analysis was subsequently conducted by chi-square test. The variables were added in the multiple logistic regression model Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), and for all variables in the final model (p ≤ 0.05) the risk was calculated by the adjusted odds ratio (OR) to a range of 95% confidence. All socioeconomic factors examined (gender, age, income and education) influence the willingness of consumers to purchase beef with certification of origin. The most important intrinsic attributes in decision making when buying meat were the color, softness, odor and little amount of fat, whereas the extrinsic attributes were price, quality seal and stamp of the SIF. Most of the consumers know the correct concept of traceability and believe that the greatest benefit of the traced meat is to be safer and to avoid the risk of foodborne illness; and the disadvantage is to be a more expensive product than the conventional.

Consciência ecológica e atitudes dos consumidores: um estudo exploratório sobre seus impactos diante de produtos e marcas. DOI: 10.15600/1679-5350/rau.v10n3p183-198

Resumen pt: A preocupacao ambiental e um tema continuo e relevante para as empresas e sociedade, nao so em razao das crescentes exigencias dos governos atraves de le...