The major aim of this thesis is to analyze the impact of structural change of exports and technology level on the international competitiveness. In order to analyze international competitiveness, export market shares are used. The empirical analysis suggested in this thesis includes two steps. In the first step, constant market share analysis is conducted to understand the causes of changes in export market shares from one period to another and in the second step a difference generalized method of moments model is proposed for 44 manufacturing sectors, which are classified with respect to their technology intensities, over 2003- 2008 period. The results are highly sensitive to the technology intensity of sectors.

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / The aim of this study is to evaluate the Rural Agent Program (RAP) impact about the performance of assisted producers in the selected city. For this purpose, was realized a survey of primary datas in the BaturitÃ, Iguatà and Quixadà cities. Ninety questionnaires were applied, 45 for assisted producers and 45 for non assisted producers, randomly selected. Tabular analysis, t-Student and H of Kruskall-Wallis tests were realized for comparison of the average and ratio, respectively with the finality to measure the program impact about the assisted producers in Cearà State. The research observed that, in general, the assisted producers have socioeconomic characteristics more favorable in utilization of new technologies, such as age, instruction degree and ownership of the land in relation to the non-assisted. Thus, was concluded that socioeconomic characteristics of assisted producers contributed with theirs technology levels and consequently with employment and income generation. Comparing the producers groups is verified that the assisted producers through RAP it presented great technology level in relation to non assisted producers. The RAP it presents positive impacts in employment and income generation of assisted producers. In general, the quality of life index of assisted producers is superior in relation to non-assisted. The evaluation of producers in relation to the quality service done by rural agents is satisfactory. This show that in despite of the number of agents in the cities to be still little to attend the existent demand, the program has been beneficed the assisted families. / Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto do Programa Agente Rural (PAR) sobre o desempenho dos produtores assistidos nos municÃpios selecionados. Para tal finalidade, realizou-se um levantamento de dados primÃrios nos municÃpios de BaturitÃ, Iguatà e QuixadÃ. Aplicaram-se 90 questionÃrios: 45 para produtores assistidos e 45 para os produtores nÃo-assistidos, selecionados aleatoriamente. Realizaram-se anÃlise tabular, testes t-Student e H de Kruskall-Wallis para comparaÃÃo das mÃdias e proporÃÃes, respectivamente, a fim de mensurar o impacto do programa sobre os produtores assistidos no Estado do CearÃ. A pesquisa observou que, em geral, os produtores assistidos possuem caracterÃsticas socioeconÃmicas mais favorÃveis a utilizaÃÃo de novas tecnologias, tais como idade, grau de instruÃÃo e posse da terra, em relaÃÃo aos nÃo-assistidos. Assim, conclui-se que as caracterÃsticas socioeconÃmicas dos produtores assistidos contribuÃram com o seu nÃvel tecnolÃgico e consequentemente com geraÃÃo de emprego e renda. Comparando os grupos de produtores, verifica-se que os assistidos pelo PAR apresentam maior nÃvel tecnolÃgico em relaÃÃo aos nÃo-assistidos. O PAR apresenta impactos positivos na geraÃÃo de emprego e renda dos produtores assistidos. Em geral, o Ãndice de qualidade de vida dos produtores assistidos à superior em relaÃÃo a aos nÃo-assistidos. A avaliaÃÃo dos produtores no que diz respeito à qualidade dos serviÃos prestados pelos agentes rurais à satisfatÃria. Isso mostra que, apesar de o nÃmero de agentes nos municÃpios ainda ser pequeno para atender a demanda existente, o programa tem beneficiado as famÃlias assistidas.