Clusters industriais na economia brasileira: uma análise exploratória a partir de dados da RAIS

Abstract

The analysis developed makes an attempt to fill up the gap from the lack of systematized information about the structure of industrial clusters in Brazilian economy. The paper is divided into four sections. The first section presents the analytical framework related to the theoretical concept of industrial clusters. The second one describes the methodology used to identify industrial clusters inBrazil. The basic source of information used is data from the Ministry of Labor (the RAIS database). The methodology is also based on the use of specific criteria - focusing and overlapping - to identify the structure of activities that are inserted in such clusters. A distinction between vertical and horizontal clusters is also explored in the methodology. The third section describes the different stages in the process of identifying industrial clusters based on the methodology used, pointing out the main differences of the process among two branches of activities that have been selected: the production of textile-apparel and the production of electronics and telecommunication equipment. This section also presents a detailed analysis of industrial clusters structural features in those branches of activities. Finally, the last conclusive section presents some possible unfolds of the analysis.