Systematic review of studies that calculate FTP in Brazilian agriculture

Abstract

Keeping continuous actions to expand the effective production is fundamental to agriculture to achieve its classic roles into the economic development process. The enlargement of agriculture production can be reached by increasing the quantity of productive factors employed or by increasing their productivity. The latter can be calculated, mainly, by the total productivity of factors index (TFP). Considering the large number of alternative approaches and methodologies to calculate TFP, a study that compiles, compares and discusses their results, as well as the advantages and disadvantages associated with each approach is useful and necessary. The present article proposes to address these questions by using a systematic bibliographical review that synthesizes of a branch of carefully selected studies; discussing the evolution of agricultural productivity especially for Brazil under different perspectives. From this analysis, the trend of TFP growth in Brazilian agriculture is stated; although diagnosing the divergence in absolute values of this growth according to the period under consideration, the method used and data employed.