Technical efficiency and technological heterogeneity in agriculture in the semi-arid and non-semi-arid regions of northeastern Brazil

Abstract This study aims to analyze the technological differences in agricultural production between the municipalities in the semiarid and non-semiarid Northeast Brazil. It uses the technological meta-frontier model proposed by Battese, Rao e O’Donnell (2004), and O’Donnell, Rao e Battese (2008), for responding to what extent these regional differences influence the efficiency of production. It was observed that the hypothesis that the municipalities belonging to the semiarid and non-semiarid face with different production opportunities. The results indicated, that comparing both regions, the non-semiarid region has the highest average technical efficiency with reference to meta-frontier.

摘要 本研究旨在剖析巴西东北部半干旱与非半干旱地区各农业市镇的生产技术差异。研究采用Battese、Rao与O’Donnell（2004）及O’Donnell、Rao与Battese（2008）提出的技术元前沿模型（technological meta-frontier model），以探明此类区域差异对农业生产效率的影响程度。研究验证了半干旱与非半干旱地区的市镇面临不同生产机会这一假说。结果表明，相较于半干旱地区，非半干旱地区的农业生产在元前沿基准下的平均技术效率更高。