Pery Francisco Assis Shikida

Álcool combustível e biodiesel no Brasil: quo vadis?

The objective of this study is to make an analysis of the agro-energy chains of the alcohol fuel and bio-diesel, based on the neo-corpora-tivism reference. As a result, one of the challenges of the Brazilian alcohol chain is to select the dimensions of the external and internal market of alcohol that comes out, to make possible a strategically planning of expansion of the offer for sugar cane and alcohol. And the chain of bio-diesel depends, as well as the Proalcohol in its genesis, on a subvention paradigm in its initial phase. Its future depends on the behavior of oil pri-ce and on the direction that the orchestra of interests around bio-diesel.

Desafios da agroindústria canavieira no Brasil pós-desregulamentação: uma análise das capacidades tecnológicas

This paper aims to appraise the technological capabilities (LALL concept, 1992) of Brazilian sugarcane agroindustry for a sample of three leading production states: Sao Paulo, Parana and Minas Gerais. A field research survey with sugar and ethanol mills provides the primary data for assessing technological capabilities (39%, 40% and 35% of the units in Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Parana State, respectively, answered, which means approximately 32% of national production of sugarcane, sugar and ethanol). As a main finding, the sugarcane agroindustry, technically qualified and with low costs, presents an expressive domain of simple routine and adaptive duplicative technological capabilities. However, the advanced technological capabilities (innovative risky) are still lagging behind the technological frontier, especially in the innovation process and in the R&D.

Agroindústria canavieira e crescimento econômico local

This study analyses the impacts on the economic growth of Cidade Gaucha, in Parana state, caused by the Usaciga plant installation. Regional development approaches, related to the role of technical interlinks and of the industry over the process of local growth, were used as theoretical reference. Primary data were given by the company and secondary data, gathered from IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) and from Ipardes (Parana Institute of Economic and Social Development). As a result, the Usaciga generates 2.195 direct jobs currently. The company and, as a consequence, the income growth in the city, has stimulated activities that supply the local demand. Therefore, Cidade Gaucha showed a population growth (urban and total) higher than the one registered in the Northwestern region of Parana from 1980 to 2000. At the same time, the loss in rural population was less expressive in Cidade Gaucha. On the other hand, the regional focus only on the sugarcane agro industry concerns. Current problems caused by the regional specialization in coffee production, which happened in the past, confirm the mistake in this kind of strategy.

A Comparison Between Ethanol and Biodiesel Production: The Brazilian and European Experiences

Industrialized countries’ dependence on fossil fuels has been distressing for a long time for countries that do not have self-sufficiency, whether for environmental, economic, geopolitical, or other reasons. In this context, it is understood that the burning of fossil fuels contributes to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) increasing the risk of intensifying climatic disturbances that can deteriorate the processes of production, consumption, and welfare in the world. Therefore, the development of alternative energy sources can provide solutions for the gaps, since reducing exposure to the vulnerability of supply and price volatility, environmental issues, and even the development of new investment opportunities in these countries. This is due to the possibility of developing innovations in the production and processing industry, which would contribute to the economic activity. Thus, increasing the use of bioenergy is one of the existing ways to reconcile the need to expand the supply of energy with the slowdown in global warming, i.e., the most important and disseminated use would be the biomass power generated by the consumption of biofuels, once it reduces GGE emissions.

Assimetria de Informação e o Crédito Agropecuário: o Caso dos Cooperados da Coamo-Toledo (PR)

The purpose of this study is to empirically analyze how the asymmetry of information affects the market of rural credit of affiliates of Coamo (Toledo - PR). It is verified that the asymmetry affects the offer and the demand for credit. As to offer, the financial agent cannot grant credit to the interested borrowers because, given the lack of information, it can put at risk its loan portfolio. As to demand, the borrowers should be well informed on the terms of contracts or other documents they are signing, otherwise they can compromise their income/ capital due to a contractual misinformation. The level of asymmetry of information can be reduced by means of the adoption of strategies that strengthen the proximity between borrowers and lenders, what can reduce financing costs. This proximity - expressed in the form of better definition of guarantees by the lenders and of a closer follow-up of financed projects - it is an important aspect to reduce the risk of default in the sector.

Análise da Agroindústria Canavieira nos Estados do Centro-Oeste do Brasil a partir da Matriz de Capacidades Tecnológicas

This research analyzed the technological dynamics of the sugarcane agroindustry in the Midwest region in Brazil, through technological capabilities matrix. Primary data were collected from plants and distilleries by means of questionnaires (the results were: 100% of units in Mato Grosso State, 54.5%, in Mato Grosso do Sul and 50%, in Goias). As a corollary, it was observed that the sugarcane agroindustries from the three states dominate a great part of technological capabilities in basic and intermediate gradation. However, regarding advanced gradation, the lowest percentages of occurrences were observed in the three states mentioned before. Therefore, it is necessary that the agroindustry allocates its efforts to improve R&D, which will facilitate the creation of new technologies. Overall, it was found that Goias presented the highest technical concentration, standing out in relation to Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul in several profiles of the technological capabilities matrix.

CRIME ECONÔMICO NO PARANÁ: UM ESTUDO DE CASO

O objetivo deste trabalho consiste na analise do crime economico no Parana, por meio de um estudo de caso nas Penitenciarias Central, Estadual e Feminina de Piraquara, a partir de dados primarios obtidos via aplicacao de questionarios/entrevistas a reus ja julgados e condenados por crimes economicos. Como corolario deste estudo, nao se rejeitou a hipotese de que os criminosos migraram para as atividades ilegais na esperanca de os ganhos esperados superassem os riscos da atividade. A opcao pela pratica do crime de natureza economica e uma decisao individual, tomada racionalmente, com ou sem influencias de terceiros, em face da percepcao de custos e beneficios, assim como os individuos fazem em relacao a outras decisoes de natureza economica.

What is behind the Italian coffee import? Investigating the most relevant dynamics

After the US and Germany, Italy is the third world’s largest importer of green coffee, above all from Brazil, Vietnam and India, being also the second roasted coffee producer, exporter and consumer in EU, after Germany. Given the importance of coffee import in Italy, this paper applies the gravity model to investigate the influence of the main variables affecting the Italian coffee import. In particular, the aim of this paper is to identify the most influent factors determining the level of import flows between Italy and its 11 main coffee export partners. Our results show that the exporters’ GDP, their coffee production, the distance between the Italian capital town and those of the other partners, and finally the continental territorial boundary affect the Italian coffee import, as well as the tradition to drink coffee and the consumers’ demand for quality.

Comparing Italian and Brazilian consumers’ attitudes towards Short Food Supply Chains

According to the Theory of Planned Behavior, this work investigates consumers’ attitudes towards the intention to buy local food in Short Food Supply Chains (SFSCs), carrying out a survey among university students in Italy and Brazil. Results show that sustainability and food safety mostly influence consumers’ behavior in both countries. However, the main differences emerged are related to the fact that Italian consumers recognized the SFSCs as a catalyst for new employment opportunities and local development, whereas the role of short chains on life quality and wellbeing is stressed by Brazilian ones.

Input-Output Analysis for agricultural and livestock sector in the Brazilian economy

This paper aims at assessing the behaviour’s evolution in the agricultural and livestock sectors in the Brazilian economy by domestic input-output matrix for 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2009. These matrices were used to calculate the forward and backward linkages indices as well as the production, employment and income generators, enabling the analysis of the relationship among the agricultural and livestock sector and other sectors. The results showed that the agricultural and livestock sector is gaining importance in the Brazilian economy, especially as input for other sectors. Furthermore, the production, employment and income generators corroborated the importance of this sector, especially the employment generator, which depicts that this sector is the major employment generator among the sectors.