MIGRAÇÃO, PRODUÇÃO E SALÁRIOS NO MEIO RURAL DA REGIÃO NORDESTE DO BRASIL

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the migratory flow, production and productivity evolution, as well as relevant and determinant factors of rural wages. The Northeast region presents a high migratory flow, mainly toward the Southeast and Middle-Western areas, seeking better jobs, higher wages and, especially, a better standard of living. According to the rural-urban migration analysis, there was a populational decrease in rural areas during the 1970-1991 period. Around 3.87 million people ought to leave the rural areas in the 1991-2001 period. Agricultural production increases as a function of land and labor productivities, as well as of the employment level. These three factors were considered in the productivity and production evolution analysis. During the 1975-1985 period, the northeastern production rose according to the land/man ratio and the higher land productivity, that is, the production ought to have been determined by gains in labor productivity. In the 1985-1995 period, a reduction in the agricultural production in all States of this region is noticeable, mainly due to droughts. However, the 20-year analysis shows that the Northeastern region’s agricultural production accused a modest increase, despite its reduction in the 1985-1995 period. The methodology adopted for salary estimation is based on Bacha’s E....