SPATIAL-TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE AVERAGE PRODUCTIVITY OF COFFEE IN MINAS GERAIS STATE: 1997-2006

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the spatial distribution of the average productivity of coffee among the 66 micro regions of the Minas Gerais State between 1997 and 2006. We also have the following objectives: a) to examine the spatial dynamics; b) to identify clusters; c) to check the spatial convergence of the average productivity of coffee, i. e., to test whether the coffee production has become more homogenous in Minas Gerais. In order to do this, we conducted an exploratory analysis of the spatial data (EASD) and used a spatial econometrics as well. We conclude that the average productivity of coffee has not been at random which indicates a spatial reordering among the micro regions. Besides, as the several models show, there has been a spatial convergence concerning the examined variable.