O comércio exterior do setor de calçados do Ceará: uma análise da dinâmica e da vantagem comparativa no período de 1997 a 2012

Abstract

The footwear industry is one of the main activities of the manufacturing industry in the state of Ceará, as it generates employment, income and configures itself since 2001 as the main activity of the state exported. Thus, this study aims to analyze the dynamics of comparative advantage and trade the footwear sector and parts of Ceará in national and local economy in the period 1997-2012. The period chosen for analysis covers major macroeconomic changes in the Brazilian economy, as economic stability achieved by the real plan, the currency crisis arising from the Asian crisis, the exchange rate change in late 1999 and recently, the 2008 crisis and Europe. This research is quantitative, has descriptive purpose, and is based on secondary data. To analyze the trade of footwear Ceará were used four indicators: The index of revealed comparative advantage Balassa (RCA), the index of revealed comparative advantage Vollrath (RCAv); indicator contribution of the trade balance of Lafay (ICTB), and the coverage rate used to identifying strengths and weaknesses of the economy of Ceará. The results show that the footwear industry has a comparative advantage over the entire series in the international market, standing out against other Brazilian regions and economic activities of the state and is considered as a strong point of Ceará in the international economy.