Institutional arrangements in Brazilian agriculture: a study on the use of contracts in South Central Brazil´s sugar-and-alcohol industry / Arranjos institucionais na agricultura brasileira: um estudo sobre o uso de contratos no sistema agroindustrial sucroalcooleiro da região centro-sul

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

This work analyzes the institutional framework that mediates market transactions between suppliers (plants) and processing firms (distilleries) within South Central Brazils sugar and alcohol agroindustry. To that end, a comparison is made between institutional production arrangements in traditional and non-traditional sugar cane farming regions. The theoretical background of this investigation is based on the New Institutional Economics, particularly focused on Transaction Cost Economics. The methodology adopted is a departure from the Holistic Approach proposed by Bogetoft and Olesen. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with producers representing institutions in the sugar and alcohol sector, as well as two case studies on processing firms. Due to the historical development of sugar agriculture, the processing firms and the seven suppliers organizations interviewed are located in different regions. Data collection and information analysis pointed to the existence of different contracts deriving from different institutional arrangements between them. Whereas agricultural producers supplying processing firms in non-traditional regions were observed to be unwilling to sign contracts, those located in traditional ones were found to have stable, long-term relationships governed by verbal contracts based on reputation built along decades of transactions. Conclusions demonstrate the importance of deepening the studies involving institutional arrangements adopted by companies located in different institutional settings.

ASSUNTO(S)

sistema agroindustrial sucroalcooleiro contracts arranjos institucionais de produção sugar and alcohol industry contratos transações sugar cane cana-de-açúcar transactions institutional production arrangements

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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