Abertura econômica e o desempenho da produtividade da indústria brasileira de 1985/1996: uma abordagem utilizando o indice de Malmquist e a teoria da fronteira estocástica

Abstract

This paper analyses the evolution of Total Factor Productivity of the Brazilian manufacturing industry during the period 1985-1997. Such period is characterized by a dramatic increase in the openness of the Brazilian economy. The methodology used was the stochastic frontier production function that allows to construct the Malmquist productivity index and to decompose it in a part that is due to change in technical efficiency and another one that is due to technological change. The main findings of the paper show that the initial impact of tariff reduction decreased technical efficiency whilst price stability and exchange rate devaluation acted positively on technical efficiency. Moreover, it can be concluded that gains in productivity during the period were mostly due to technological change rather than to change in technical efficiency.