Assessing Brazil’s information diffusion power: a structural hole approach

Abstract

The objective of this article is to verify the sectors’ capacity to diffuse information and knowledge in the Brazilian economy between 2010 and 2015. The input-output technique is used with contributions in network theory and the Structural hole concept, developed by Burt (1992). The results indicate a relevant capacity to diffuse information and knowledge in the economy. This capacity declined in this period. There is a small decline in the diffusion power of the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors between the years 2010 and 2015. Low, medium-low and medium technological activities showed a strong capacity to disseminate information throughout the network.