NEM COMPUTER CHIPS, NEM POTATO CHIPS: PRODUTIVIDADE E MUDANÇA ESTRUTURAL NA INDÚSTRIA BRASILEIRA, 1970-2001

This paper aims to assess the contribution of structural changes in the Brazilian industry to productivity growth, during the 1970-2001 period. Using data from the Industrial Census of 1970, 1980 and 1985 and from the Industrial Annual Survey of 1996 and 2001, the paper concludes that: (i) though liberalizing reforms had a strong impact on productivity in the first five years after their implementation, the trend does not seem to be maintained in following periods; (ii) there is no clear evidence of a positive influence of the structural bonus; and (iii) job creation seems to be concentrated in slow productivity growth sectors.