Complexidade setorial e estratégias de diversificação inteligente em nível microrregional: o caso de Santa Catarina

Abstract

In this study on Santa Catarina, we show that complexity at the microregional level is more suitable than at the state level to capture opportunities for intelligent diversification. Moreover, sectoral employment data can more comprehensively portray productive structures than export data. On the one hand, identifying opportunities at the state level would disproportionately benefit complex micro-regions, omitting opportunities from less developed micro-regions. On the other hand, the complexity of exports underestimates local knowledge and diversification opportunities – such as knowledge-based services or manufacturing activities for Brazilian markets – and overestimates the strengths of regions exporting agricultural products – such as pork and chicken. The results indicate that smart diversification strategies need to consider all sectors and micro-regions, or development efforts will result in Brazil's “traditional” structural problems: the focus on relatively simple export sectors and few advanced micro-regions.