EFFICIENCY OF COLLECTIVE ACTIONS OF BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS IN THE MIDWEST OF BRAZIL

Abstract

Contrary to common-sense beliefs that beef cattle producers have difficulties in cooperating among themselves, cooperation initiatives can be noticed in Brazil, especially in the Midwest region. Built on a theoretical framework of Collective Actions and Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), this work analyzes the horizontal cooperation pattern of beef cattle producers in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). We focused on Private Interest Organizations (PIOs) with the purpose of identifying typologies and analyzing beef collective actions efficiency. Case studies with seven PIOs conducted through semi-structured interviews exhibits the efficiency of these organizations regarding the ability to provide collective goods, which vary according to their organizational aspects and typology. Results points out that PIOs were founded to contribute in technology and professionalization, increasing competitiveness and access to new markets, coordinating productive systems, reducing transaction costs among agents, modifying the institutional environment, and, finally, altering the behavior of bovine meat consumers.