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This study aims to evaluate changes on the structure, conduct and performance in the food industry after its productive reorganization which took place after the Brazilian trade liberalization. The period of analysis is from 1990 to 2004. The analytical framework was based on the paradigm Structure-Conduct-Performance of the Industrial Organization Theory. In order to provide the degree of market concentration, the indexes of Concentration Ratio CRk and Herfindahl-Hirschman HHI were estimated. Besides, the competition dynamics were evaluated using the turnover analysis. The CRk indicated a huge increase in the market share of the four and eight biggest firms. The HHI also followed this concentration trend. There was a high turnover in the industry, which demonstrates that despite the increasing market concentration the competition is very high among firms. The increased market concentration has not been used by firms as a way to obtain oligopoly profits. During the period, the food price level has decreased. Basically, the strategies of the firms are concentrated in market segmentation to increase sales. The food sector has been one of the most important in the Brazilian economy. However, the country needs to work its structural problems related to the spatial distribution of agricultural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article has the objective to verify if the goals attributed to the bank agencies of a Brazilian institution for performance evaluation are defined in accordance with the variables characteristic of business generation capacity. Regarding the performance presented in 2002, analysis of tree groups are done: agencies that systematically surpass their goals; agencies that present performance in accordance with the expected; and agencies that systematically do not reach their goals. These groups are analyzed in set with 12 groupings of agencies with similar characteristics, identified based on the application of Cluster Analysis. The results point out that the goals attributed to the agencies are coherent with the characteristic variables of this cities business generation potencial. However, for the agencies group that surpass their goals systematically, the study discloses that the goals underestimate their cities and agencies business potencial. The article confirms the Cluster technique contribution for goals attribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]