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Abstract
This paper aims to analyze the use of factors of production, as well as
the impacts of technological changes in the agricultural and husbandry sector of
Minas Gerais, during the period of 1996-2006. It was used the Malmquist total factor
productivity index in order to identify regions in which technological progress had
occurred. Based on this analysis it can be seen that 67% of the microregions presented
some kind of technological advancement. Then the technological changes were analyzed
so that they could be classified as capital-saving or labor-saving. It was found that
the regions in which technological progress had occurred are responsible for 84% of
the agricultural and husbandry production in the state. Another point observed was
the significant predominance of labor-saving technologies. This new dynamics in
agricultural and husbandry technologies in the state of Minas Gerais has impacted the
use of factors, reducing the production elasticity of labor and increasing the production
elasticity of capital.