BNDES AND THE SUGARCANE EXPANSION TO THE CENTER-WEST: AN ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF PUBLIC CREDIT IN THE TERRITORIAL DYNAMICS OF SUGARCANE
Brazilian sugar-cane sector; BNDES, Rural Credit; Agribusiness; Sugar-cane expansion
The aim of this research was to examine the role of BNDES in the expansion of the sugarcane industry in the Brazilian Midwest region between 2003 and 2020. This period encompassed the latest phase of growth in the sector, which began with the introduction of flex-fuel engines in 2003. Recognizing the significance of the Brazilian government in shaping the economic and territorial dynamics of the sugarcane industry, our hypothesis was that BNDES played a pivotal role in the geographical expansion of sugarcane cultivation, driving it through an active policy and providing the necessary resources for investment. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of BNDES credit operations in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Mato Grosso, utilizing descriptive statistics within the specified time frame. Additionally, we analyzed publications from the Revista BNDES and BNDES Setorial journal that focused on the sugarcane sector since 2000, employing a content analysis approach. Our goal was to contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the political and social determinants of economic dynamics, particularly the role of the state. To achieve this, we adopted an institutionalist paradigm that allowed for a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating insights from Economic Sociology, Political Science, and Economics. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of BNDES credit operations in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Mato Grosso, utilizing descriptive statistics within the specified time frame. Additionally, we analyzed publications from the BNDES magazine and BNDES Sectorial journal that focused on the sugarcane sector since 2000, employing a content analysis approach. Our objective was to contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the political and social determinants of economic dynamics, particularly the role of the state. To achieve this, we adopted an institutionalist paradigm that allowed for a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating insights from Economic Sociology, Political Science, and Economics.