The purpose of this study was to investigate the concepts of remote and task risks in relation to the structure of the casual theme restaurant industry, and to examine the performance consequences of their relationships. This study proposed a framework of analysis that will enable industry participants to develop an improved understanding of the relationships among environmental risk drivers, and of the influence of their strategic decisions on the environment-performance connection. Specifically, it was proposed that task risk factors could be identified, and that they would mediate the influence that some identifiable remote risk factors would have on the performance of the industry. It was also expected that this mediated relationship would be moderated by the influence of the structure of industry. The primary unit of analysis was at the industry sector level as the performance construct was operationalized using a portfolio of 24 casual theme restaurant firms. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the remote and task risk factors. The analysis suggested that three remote factors and three task factors represent the two environmental constructs: "Interest rates", "Expectations" and "Exchange rates" for the remote environment, and "Input quantities", "Input restaurant" and "Input prices" for the task environment. A number of time-series regression analyses were subsequently conducted for the 1993-2006 period to investigate the various proposed relationships. The results indicated that a number of significant direct effects of the remote and task risk factors on the cash flow returns on invested capital of the industry portfolio existed. Also, a significant mediated relationship was found: the "Input prices" mediated the influence of the "Expectations" on changes in the cash flow returns on invested capital. However, and despite numerous significant direct effects between the industry structure variables and the performance variables, no moderation could be established. The present study paved the way for future research on the relationships between the remote and task environment and the performance of firms. In particular, further research should be conducted that delves into the role of the cyclical nature of environmental risk factors. Besides, additional investigations of the influence of the structure of the industry should be conducted by attempting to compare more contrasted states of the industry. / Ph. D.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agricultural Economics / Ted Schroeder / This dissertation empirically examines how demand-enhancing activities conducted by food industry participants affect retail beef steak pricing, consumer demand for ground beef, and industry concentration. It follows the journal article style and includes three self-contained chapters. Chapter 1 uses a two step hedonic model with retail scanner data of consumer beef steak purchases to determine if there are incentives to identify certain attributes and to determine what types of attributes entertain price premiums and at what levels these premiums exists. Results indicate that most branded beef steak products garnered premiums along with organic claim, religious processing claim, and premium steak cuts. Factors influencing brand equity are new brands targeting emerging consumer trends, brands with regional prominence, and those positioned as special-labels, program/breed specific, and store brands. Chapter 2 reports tests of aggregation over elementary ground beef products and estimates composite demand elasticities. Results suggest consumers differentiate ground beef according to lean percentage (70-77%, 78-84%, 85-89%, 90-95%, and 96-100%) and brand type (local/regional, national, store, and unbranded). The range in composite elasticity estimates shows the value of analyzing demand elasticity based on differentiation and not simply considering ground beef as being homogeneous. Composite elasticity estimates provide improved understanding of how consumers make decisions concerning ground beef purchases. Chapter 3 examines industry concentration for the U.S. food manufacturing sector. This study is the first to examine whether particular subsectors within the food manufacturing industry, which operate in the presence of industry-funded check-off programs such as marketing orders, are more or less concentrated than industries without such research and marketing programs. Results provide evidence to support the hypothesis that industries with demand-enhancing check-off programs have lower concentration relative to industries without these programs.

In light of developing a nascent gas industry, present multiple challenges in restructuring, regulations and meeting infrastructure investments requirements. To identify an appropriate industry structure and provide suitable regulatory framework to attract adequate infrastructure investments are the requirement to maintain a viable nascent gas industry. The purpose of the study is to examine the conditions required for developing a viable nascent gas industry in Ghana. The study develops an analytical framework by combining the Structure-Conduct-Performance paradigm and the Transaction Cost Economics theory with stakeholder consultation in an integrated cash flow model, which identified inappropriate industry structure, ineffective regulation and high risk as challenges in the gas industry in Ghana. The current gas industry structure and regulatory framework in Ghana is identified as state control monopoly. To strengthen the analysis of the study alternative gas industry structural models were reviewed. The Single Buyer Model (SBM) is suggested as an initial stage structure for Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to commercialize upstream natural gas resources and ease transactions cost. However, the SBM is constrained by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) inefficiencies. The Multiple Buyer Model (MBM) is considered as a transitional structure to solve the existing hold-up and lock-in inefficiencies of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation-Ghana National Gas Company-Volta River Authority (GNPC-GNGC-VRA) firm structure. Enforcing open access regulations to essential infrastructure is required in the long run. Developing an integrated gas-to-power project in Ghana is a viable business. Nevertheless, non-associated gas production from the Sankofa Gas Project is risky and requires higher gas prices and alternative downstream consumers to be viable. The Gas Processing Plant and transmission pipeline tariffs are inappropriately set and requires regulations. Providing effective regulations and governance arrangements by establishing an independent regulator through a gas sector law are important in protecting the interest of various stakeholders in the nascent gas industry in Ghana.

Cette thèse se compose de trois chapitres distincts. Le premier chapitre examine le lien de causalité entre l’offre de prêts syndiqués par des banques et les contributions de campagnes électorales par des entreprises non-financières aux États-Unis au cours de la crise financière de 2007–2008. Les résultats indiquent qu’une diminution de 10% de l’offre de prêt à une entreprise donnée par ses prêteurs pré-crise pendant la première période de crise entraîne une augmentation de 9% des contributions de campagne par cette entreprise en 2008. De plus, le niveau de contributions de campagne par des entreprises dans le passé est positivement associé à des conditions de prêt favorables dans l’avenir. Les résultats appuient l’idée que les contributions de campagne sont un investissement dans le capital politique plutôt qu’une simple forme de bien de consommation. Le deuxième chapitre identifie l’effet d’exposition industrielle de banques avant leur entrée sur le marché sur la croissance de production des secteurs de fabrication. Les résultats indiquent que plus grande est la différence de spécialisation dans un secteur entre deux états, plus grand est l’impact d’intégration bancaire sur la croissance de ce secteur dans l’état qui est moins spécialisé. Le dernier chapitre examine si l’intégration bancaire dans plusieurs régions a un impact sur le marché de contrôle des entreprises entre elles. Les résultats indiquent qu’il y a plus de fusions, acquisitions et cessions dans les paires d’états dont les systèmes bancaires ont connu une plus grande intégration, par rapport à des paires d’états sans une telle intégration. Les résultats dans les deux derniers chapitres indiquent un canal bancaire qui façonne le paysage industriel d’états. / This dissertation is made of three distinct chapters. The first chapter examines the causal link between banks’ syndicated loan supply and non-financial firms’ campaign contributions for US elections during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The results indicate that a 10% decrease in loan supply of a given firm by its pre-crisis relationship lenders during the early crisis period leads to a 9% increase in firm’s campaign contributions in 2008. Further, firms’ level of past campaign contributions is positively associated with favorable loan terms for the future. The findings lend support to the idea that campaign contributions are an investment in political capital rather than merely a form of consumption good. The second chapter identifies the effect of banks’ industry exposures prior to market-entry on the output growth of manufacturing sectors through US bank-entry deregulations. The findings indicate that the larger the discrepancy in specialization in an industry between a state-pair, the higher the impact of banking integration on the growth of that sector in the state that is less-specialized. The last chapter examines whether banking integration across regions has any impact on the market for corporate control between them. The results show that there are more M&As and divestitures across state-pairs whose banking systems have experienced a higher integration, compared to state-pairs with no such integration. The findings in the last two chapters indicate a banking channel that shapes the states’ industrial landscape.

Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 1991

Abstract Electricity is an indispensable power in our modern life and it has an important impact on our daily life and the development of a nation¡¦s economy. Traditionally, it has been controlled and protected by the government, thus it has caused the power producers pay no attention to cost and efficiency. Through the electric power industry liberalization, the market will have more competition and it can increase the efficiency in management. The foundation of the electric power industry liberalization is the industry structures and market systems. Different industry structures will have different market systems thus producing different impacts in electric power industry. The power producers must use different strategies regarding to different management and circumstances to insure their best interests. The main purpose of this paper is to discuss the circumstances and structures of electric power industry in Taiwan, This paper also talks about the strategies under different electric power market systems and management from the viewpoints of independent power producers. The power producers in Taiwan are in a difficult situation. Under the development of electric power industry liberalization, the government must consider the conditions of power producers, therefore, the authorities must speed up making rules and regulations and establishing electric power market systems. The government needs to set up a fair competition and efficient environment. Take the consideration of their own benefits, the independent power producers might use the following strategies: Build up less pollution facilities to reduce the cost of electricity. Borrow money from banks to increase the price of electricity. Using the strategy of bidding to gain more profits. Keywords¡GElectric power industry liberalization,Electric power industry structure,Independent power producer,Strategy

No final do século passado ocorreram transformações significativas no cenário econômico internacional, iniciando uma nova configuração das relações entre países e regiões. O Brasil, que já era um dos principais atores no que se refere à produção e comércio de produtos agropecuários, consideradas suas vantagens ligadas aos recursos naturais, passa a ganhar maior importância, dadas as melhorias de um ambiente econômico estabilizado, ainda impulsionado pelo crescimento e desenvolvimento de países emergentes. Dentro desse cenário, “nasce” a crise econômica nos Estados Unidos em fins de 2008, que leva à contração do crédito e a queda da produção industrial e do comércio internacional. Então, a expansão e busca por mercados (interno e externo), juntamente com um processo de agregação de valor aos produtos da agropecuária que contribuem para o crescimento e desenvolvimento do país, pode encontrar na indústria de alimentos o caminho mais curto para esse objetivo. Diante desse contexto, se faz necessária a análise dos fatores e elementos que apresentam efeitos sobre a atividade produtiva dessa indústria. Essa análise pode ser feita a partir da observação do comportamento da indústria alimentícia, através das alterações na estrutura em que está inserida e em que sentido as variações na conjuntura macroeconômica, ao longo do tempo, também afetam sua atividade. Para isso, o emprego é o indicador da atividade econômica no qual é possível verificar as respostas aos impactos das mudanças e variações observadas na sua estrutura e conjuntura macroeconômica. Considerando a disponibilidade de informações e a composição do cenário, o período entre 2002 e 2011 se constituiu como o mais adequado para o estudo. Então, partindo desses aspectos, o referencial teórico e a revisão bibliográfica indicaram para análise do emprego, entre os fatores estruturais, a sazonalidade, a distribuição regional e o tamanho das empresas que fazem parte dessa indústria. Indicou ainda, para análise dos fatores conjunturais, um grupo de variáveis macroeconômicas composto por juros, renda, inflação, câmbio e exportações, como elementos que poderiam apresentar efeitos sobre o emprego e, consequentemente, sobre a atividade econômica da indústria de alimentos. Dessa forma, se definiu como objetivos, identificar mudanças na distribuição regional das empresas e do emprego por região do país; analisar a relação do emprego com a variação da quantidade e tamanho das empresas; verificar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre o emprego dessa indústria; e, analisar o efeito que cada uma e o conjunto das variáveis que compõem a conjuntura macroeconômica exercem sobre o emprego na indústria de alimentos. Para isso, se utilizou da análise descritiva de gráficos e tabelas relativas aos dados de estrutura, tamanho e distribuição regional e sazonalidade, e, também, da análise econométrica, através da regressão linear múltipla, para identificar os efeitos das variáveis conjunturais sobre o emprego na indústria de alimentos. Como principais resultados encontrados estão o crescimento mais significativo do emprego no período anterior a crise internacional e o crescimento maior do emprego nas regiões Norte e Centro Oeste do que nas demais, indicando uma desconcentração regional; o aumento do emprego, em geral, foi maior nas grandes e pequenas empresas, e as que mais aumentaram sua participação no emprego foram as grandes e médias, dado pelo aumento da média de empregados por empresa; a sazonalidade indicou que o emprego apresenta comportamento regular e sistemático, acompanhado da sazonalidade da produção da matéria-prima de origem da agropecuária. Por fim, a análise da relação do emprego com a conjuntura mostrou que o conjunto das variáveis utilizadas no modelo explica 20,8% desse emprego e todas as variáveis independentes apresentaram o sinal esperado, corroborando com o referencial teórico. / At the end of the last century significant changes in the international economic scenery occurred, starting a new configuration on the relations between countries and regions. Brazil, which was already one of the main actors regarding to the production and trade of agricultural products, considering its natural resources advantages, gains more importance because of the improvements of a stable economic environment, driven by the growth and development of emerging countries. Within that scenery, the economic crisis in the United States in the end of 2008 “was born”, and it leads to the contraction of credit and to the industrial production and the international trade falling. Then, the expansion and the search for markets (internal and external), with a process of adding value to agricultural products that contribute to the growth and development of the country, can find in the food industry the shortest path to that aim. In this context, it is necessary to analyze the factors and elements that have effects on the productive activity of this industry. This analysis can be made from the observation of the food industry behavior, through changes in the structure in which it is inserted and in what sense variations in macroeconomic situation, through the time, also affect its activity. To do this, employment is the indicator of economic activity in which it is possible to check the responses to the impacts of changes and variations observed in its structure and macroeconomic conjuncture. Considering the availability of information and the composition of the scenery, the period between 2002 and 2011 is more appropriated for the study. So, based on these aspects, the theoretical framework and the literature review indicated for job analysis, among others structural factors, seasonality, regional distribution and the size of the companies which are part of the this industry. Also, for the conjuncture factors analysis, a group of macroeconomic variables constituted by income, inflation, exchange rate and exports were indicated as elements which could have effects on employment and, consequently, on the economic activity of the food industry. Thus, it was defined as objectives, identify changes in regional distribution of companies and employment by region of the country; analyze the relation of employment with variation of quantity and size of the companies; check the effect of seasonality on employment in this industry; and analyze the effect that each one and all of the variables in the macroeconomic situation have on employment in the food industry. To this, it was used the descriptive analysis of charts and tables relating to structure data, size and regional distribution and seasonality, and, also, econometric analysis by multiple linear regression to identify the effects of conjunctural variables on employment in the food industry. The main results are the most significant employment growth in the period preceding the international crisis and larger job growth in the North and Midwest regions than in the others, indicating a regional devolution; the increase of the employment, in general, was greater in large and small companies, and the ones with the most increased participation in employment were the large and the medium-sized, because of the increase of average employees per company; the seasonality indicated that employment has regular and systematic behavior followed by the seasonality of the raw materials production from agricultural origin. Finally, the analysis of the relation between employment and conjuncture showed that the set of used variables in the model explains 20.8% of employment and all the independent variables had the expected sign, corroborating with the theoretical framework.

No final do século passado ocorreram transformações significativas no cenário econômico internacional, iniciando uma nova configuração das relações entre países e regiões. O Brasil, que já era um dos principais atores no que se refere à produção e comércio de produtos agropecuários, consideradas suas vantagens ligadas aos recursos naturais, passa a ganhar maior importância, dadas as melhorias de um ambiente econômico estabilizado, ainda impulsionado pelo crescimento e desenvolvimento de países emergentes. Dentro desse cenário, “nasce” a crise econômica nos Estados Unidos em fins de 2008, que leva à contração do crédito e a queda da produção industrial e do comércio internacional. Então, a expansão e busca por mercados (interno e externo), juntamente com um processo de agregação de valor aos produtos da agropecuária que contribuem para o crescimento e desenvolvimento do país, pode encontrar na indústria de alimentos o caminho mais curto para esse objetivo. Diante desse contexto, se faz necessária a análise dos fatores e elementos que apresentam efeitos sobre a atividade produtiva dessa indústria. Essa análise pode ser feita a partir da observação do comportamento da indústria alimentícia, através das alterações na estrutura em que está inserida e em que sentido as variações na conjuntura macroeconômica, ao longo do tempo, também afetam sua atividade. Para isso, o emprego é o indicador da atividade econômica no qual é possível verificar as respostas aos impactos das mudanças e variações observadas na sua estrutura e conjuntura macroeconômica. Considerando a disponibilidade de informações e a composição do cenário, o período entre 2002 e 2011 se constituiu como o mais adequado para o estudo. Então, partindo desses aspectos, o referencial teórico e a revisão bibliográfica indicaram para análise do emprego, entre os fatores estruturais, a sazonalidade, a distribuição regional e o tamanho das empresas que fazem parte dessa indústria. Indicou ainda, para análise dos fatores conjunturais, um grupo de variáveis macroeconômicas composto por juros, renda, inflação, câmbio e exportações, como elementos que poderiam apresentar efeitos sobre o emprego e, consequentemente, sobre a atividade econômica da indústria de alimentos. Dessa forma, se definiu como objetivos, identificar mudanças na distribuição regional das empresas e do emprego por região do país; analisar a relação do emprego com a variação da quantidade e tamanho das empresas; verificar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre o emprego dessa indústria; e, analisar o efeito que cada uma e o conjunto das variáveis que compõem a conjuntura macroeconômica exercem sobre o emprego na indústria de alimentos. Para isso, se utilizou da análise descritiva de gráficos e tabelas relativas aos dados de estrutura, tamanho e distribuição regional e sazonalidade, e, também, da análise econométrica, através da regressão linear múltipla, para identificar os efeitos das variáveis conjunturais sobre o emprego na indústria de alimentos. Como principais resultados encontrados estão o crescimento mais significativo do emprego no período anterior a crise internacional e o crescimento maior do emprego nas regiões Norte e Centro Oeste do que nas demais, indicando uma desconcentração regional; o aumento do emprego, em geral, foi maior nas grandes e pequenas empresas, e as que mais aumentaram sua participação no emprego foram as grandes e médias, dado pelo aumento da média de empregados por empresa; a sazonalidade indicou que o emprego apresenta comportamento regular e sistemático, acompanhado da sazonalidade da produção da matéria-prima de origem da agropecuária. Por fim, a análise da relação do emprego com a conjuntura mostrou que o conjunto das variáveis utilizadas no modelo explica 20,8% desse emprego e todas as variáveis independentes apresentaram o sinal esperado, corroborando com o referencial teórico. / At the end of the last century significant changes in the international economic scenery occurred, starting a new configuration on the relations between countries and regions. Brazil, which was already one of the main actors regarding to the production and trade of agricultural products, considering its natural resources advantages, gains more importance because of the improvements of a stable economic environment, driven by the growth and development of emerging countries. Within that scenery, the economic crisis in the United States in the end of 2008 “was born”, and it leads to the contraction of credit and to the industrial production and the international trade falling. Then, the expansion and the search for markets (internal and external), with a process of adding value to agricultural products that contribute to the growth and development of the country, can find in the food industry the shortest path to that aim. In this context, it is necessary to analyze the factors and elements that have effects on the productive activity of this industry. This analysis can be made from the observation of the food industry behavior, through changes in the structure in which it is inserted and in what sense variations in macroeconomic situation, through the time, also affect its activity. To do this, employment is the indicator of economic activity in which it is possible to check the responses to the impacts of changes and variations observed in its structure and macroeconomic conjuncture. Considering the availability of information and the composition of the scenery, the period between 2002 and 2011 is more appropriated for the study. So, based on these aspects, the theoretical framework and the literature review indicated for job analysis, among others structural factors, seasonality, regional distribution and the size of the companies which are part of the this industry. Also, for the conjuncture factors analysis, a group of macroeconomic variables constituted by income, inflation, exchange rate and exports were indicated as elements which could have effects on employment and, consequently, on the economic activity of the food industry. Thus, it was defined as objectives, identify changes in regional distribution of companies and employment by region of the country; analyze the relation of employment with variation of quantity and size of the companies; check the effect of seasonality on employment in this industry; and analyze the effect that each one and all of the variables in the macroeconomic situation have on employment in the food industry. To this, it was used the descriptive analysis of charts and tables relating to structure data, size and regional distribution and seasonality, and, also, econometric analysis by multiple linear regression to identify the effects of conjunctural variables on employment in the food industry. The main results are the most significant employment growth in the period preceding the international crisis and larger job growth in the North and Midwest regions than in the others, indicating a regional devolution; the increase of the employment, in general, was greater in large and small companies, and the ones with the most increased participation in employment were the large and the medium-sized, because of the increase of average employees per company; the seasonality indicated that employment has regular and systematic behavior followed by the seasonality of the raw materials production from agricultural origin. Finally, the analysis of the relation between employment and conjuncture showed that the set of used variables in the model explains 20.8% of employment and all the independent variables had the expected sign, corroborating with the theoretical framework.

abstract: The construction industry in India suffers from major time and cost overruns. Data from government and industry reports suggest that projects suffer from 20 to 25 percent time and cost overruns. Waste of resources has been identified as a major source of inefficiency. Despite a substantial increase in the past few years, demand for professionals and contractors still exceeds supply by a large margin. The traditional methods adopted in the Indian construction industry may not suffice the needs of this dynamic environment, as they have produced large inefficiencies. Innovative ways of procurement and project management can satisfy the needs aspired to as well as bring added value. The problems faced by the Indian construction industry are very similar to those faced by other developing countries. The objective of this paper is to discuss and analyze the economic concerns, inefficiencies and investigate a model that both explains the Indian construction industry structure and provides a framework to improve efficiencies. The Best Value (BV) model is examined as an approach to be adopted in lieu of the traditional approach. This could result in efficient construction projects by minimizing cost overruns and delays, which until now have been a rarity. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Construction 2013

No final do século passado ocorreram transformações significativas no cenário econômico internacional, iniciando uma nova configuração das relações entre países e regiões. O Brasil, que já era um dos principais atores no que se refere à produção e comércio de produtos agropecuários, consideradas suas vantagens ligadas aos recursos naturais, passa a ganhar maior importância, dadas as melhorias de um ambiente econômico estabilizado, ainda impulsionado pelo crescimento e desenvolvimento de países emergentes. Dentro desse cenário, “nasce” a crise econômica nos Estados Unidos em fins de 2008, que leva à contração do crédito e a queda da produção industrial e do comércio internacional. Então, a expansão e busca por mercados (interno e externo), juntamente com um processo de agregação de valor aos produtos da agropecuária que contribuem para o crescimento e desenvolvimento do país, pode encontrar na indústria de alimentos o caminho mais curto para esse objetivo. Diante desse contexto, se faz necessária a análise dos fatores e elementos que apresentam efeitos sobre a atividade produtiva dessa indústria. Essa análise pode ser feita a partir da observação do comportamento da indústria alimentícia, através das alterações na estrutura em que está inserida e em que sentido as variações na conjuntura macroeconômica, ao longo do tempo, também afetam sua atividade. Para isso, o emprego é o indicador da atividade econômica no qual é possível verificar as respostas aos impactos das mudanças e variações observadas na sua estrutura e conjuntura macroeconômica. Considerando a disponibilidade de informações e a composição do cenário, o período entre 2002 e 2011 se constituiu como o mais adequado para o estudo. Então, partindo desses aspectos, o referencial teórico e a revisão bibliográfica indicaram para análise do emprego, entre os fatores estruturais, a sazonalidade, a distribuição regional e o tamanho das empresas que fazem parte dessa indústria. Indicou ainda, para análise dos fatores conjunturais, um grupo de variáveis macroeconômicas composto por juros, renda, inflação, câmbio e exportações, como elementos que poderiam apresentar efeitos sobre o emprego e, consequentemente, sobre a atividade econômica da indústria de alimentos. Dessa forma, se definiu como objetivos, identificar mudanças na distribuição regional das empresas e do emprego por região do país; analisar a relação do emprego com a variação da quantidade e tamanho das empresas; verificar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre o emprego dessa indústria; e, analisar o efeito que cada uma e o conjunto das variáveis que compõem a conjuntura macroeconômica exercem sobre o emprego na indústria de alimentos. Para isso, se utilizou da análise descritiva de gráficos e tabelas relativas aos dados de estrutura, tamanho e distribuição regional e sazonalidade, e, também, da análise econométrica, através da regressão linear múltipla, para identificar os efeitos das variáveis conjunturais sobre o emprego na indústria de alimentos. Como principais resultados encontrados estão o crescimento mais significativo do emprego no período anterior a crise internacional e o crescimento maior do emprego nas regiões Norte e Centro Oeste do que nas demais, indicando uma desconcentração regional; o aumento do emprego, em geral, foi maior nas grandes e pequenas empresas, e as que mais aumentaram sua participação no emprego foram as grandes e médias, dado pelo aumento da média de empregados por empresa; a sazonalidade indicou que o emprego apresenta comportamento regular e sistemático, acompanhado da sazonalidade da produção da matéria-prima de origem da agropecuária. Por fim, a análise da relação do emprego com a conjuntura mostrou que o conjunto das variáveis utilizadas no modelo explica 20,8% desse emprego e todas as variáveis independentes apresentaram o sinal esperado, corroborando com o referencial teórico. / At the end of the last century significant changes in the international economic scenery occurred, starting a new configuration on the relations between countries and regions. Brazil, which was already one of the main actors regarding to the production and trade of agricultural products, considering its natural resources advantages, gains more importance because of the improvements of a stable economic environment, driven by the growth and development of emerging countries. Within that scenery, the economic crisis in the United States in the end of 2008 “was born”, and it leads to the contraction of credit and to the industrial production and the international trade falling. Then, the expansion and the search for markets (internal and external), with a process of adding value to agricultural products that contribute to the growth and development of the country, can find in the food industry the shortest path to that aim. In this context, it is necessary to analyze the factors and elements that have effects on the productive activity of this industry. This analysis can be made from the observation of the food industry behavior, through changes in the structure in which it is inserted and in what sense variations in macroeconomic situation, through the time, also affect its activity. To do this, employment is the indicator of economic activity in which it is possible to check the responses to the impacts of changes and variations observed in its structure and macroeconomic conjuncture. Considering the availability of information and the composition of the scenery, the period between 2002 and 2011 is more appropriated for the study. So, based on these aspects, the theoretical framework and the literature review indicated for job analysis, among others structural factors, seasonality, regional distribution and the size of the companies which are part of the this industry. Also, for the conjuncture factors analysis, a group of macroeconomic variables constituted by income, inflation, exchange rate and exports were indicated as elements which could have effects on employment and, consequently, on the economic activity of the food industry. Thus, it was defined as objectives, identify changes in regional distribution of companies and employment by region of the country; analyze the relation of employment with variation of quantity and size of the companies; check the effect of seasonality on employment in this industry; and analyze the effect that each one and all of the variables in the macroeconomic situation have on employment in the food industry. To this, it was used the descriptive analysis of charts and tables relating to structure data, size and regional distribution and seasonality, and, also, econometric analysis by multiple linear regression to identify the effects of conjunctural variables on employment in the food industry. The main results are the most significant employment growth in the period preceding the international crisis and larger job growth in the North and Midwest regions than in the others, indicating a regional devolution; the increase of the employment, in general, was greater in large and small companies, and the ones with the most increased participation in employment were the large and the medium-sized, because of the increase of average employees per company; the seasonality indicated that employment has regular and systematic behavior followed by the seasonality of the raw materials production from agricultural origin. Finally, the analysis of the relation between employment and conjuncture showed that the set of used variables in the model explains 20.8% of employment and all the independent variables had the expected sign, corroborating with the theoretical framework.