Descriptive analysis of intergovernmental contracts in the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry

Abstract

The examination of intergovernmental contracts for acquiring agricultural machinery and equipment is a crucial strategy for comprehending resource distribution and partnerships across different levels of government. This study investigates these intergovernmental contracts between the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and various municipalities, employing descriptive research and analyzing data on financial transfers from MAPA to states grouped by region. Over the period from 2020 to 2022, there was a noticeable increase in voluntary transfers, underscoring the significance of contextualized analyses for more robust inferences within this timeframe. The research employs summary measures such as mean, median, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, as well as shape measures such as skewness and kurtosis, applied to three quantitative variables. These measures offer an overview of the distribution of financial amounts, revealing central tendencies and dispersions. Bar graphs visually represent the proportions of transfers by state, emphasizing the distribution of transfers across the country’s regions. Pearson’s linear correlation reveals a moderately strong and positive correlation between the years when intergovernmental contracts were executed and the average normalized transfer amounts. The relatively short timeframe is acknowledged as a limitation of this analysis. Hence, we recommend a more in-depth research agenda to explore intergovernmental contracts in the field of agriculture, considering their socioeconomic implications and impact on public policies.