Structure, conduct and performance: a simultaneous equations investigation for the Brazilian manufacturing industry

The article investigated structure-conduct-performance (SCP) relationships in the context of the Brazilian manufacturing industry in 1996. For that purpose, it considered a system with four equations pertaining concentration, advertising, R&D and profitability that was estimated with simultaneous equation models. In addition to the usual explanatory variables proxying barriers to entry and demand conditions, the article considered organizational practices and incentive schemes variables. The evidence indicated an important role for variables related to barriers to entry in affecting market structure, an important and nonlinear effect of concentration on advertising, a relevant impact of firm-size on the propensity to exert R&D effort and finally a significant positive impact of concentration on profitability, and were similar to the previous evidence for developed countries. Additionally, no important roles were detected for organizational practices and incentive schemes on the SCP relationships.