Aglomerações produtivas do setor canavieiro no Nordeste brasileiro: uma análise por microrregiões utilizando o Índice de Concentração Normalizado (ICN), 2022–2024

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of the formal labor market on identifying productive agglomerations in the sugarcane cultivation sector across microregions of Northeast Brazil between 2022 and 2024. The general objective was to analyze the influence of the formal labor market on the formation of productive agglomerations in the sugarcane cultivation sector across microregions of Northeast Brazil during the 2022–2024 triennium. The Geometric Normalized Concentration Index (ICNg) was employed, constructed by integrating the Location Quotient (QL), Relative Participation Index (PR), and Hirschman-Herfindahl Index (IHH), applied to formal employment data from the Annual Social Information Report (RAIS). The methodology involved Z-score standardization, Min-Max normalization, and geometric mean aggregation, processed using R programming language. Results revealed profound regional asymmetry, with only 30 of the 188 microregions qualifying as valid productive agglomerations. The microregions of São Miguel dos Campos (AL) and Cotinguiba (SE) stood out for their consistent top-ranking performance throughout the three-year period, demonstrating balance among specialization, scale, and sectoral concentration. The study concluded that the formal labor market exerts a decisive and structuring influence on the formation of sugarcane agglomerations in Northeast Brazil, acting as a vector for productive base consolidation and providing economic resilience to specialized hubs. The findings highlight the sector's spatial concentration in "production islands" and provide insights for regional development public policies.