The evolution of the yerba-mate sector in the 19th century: an analysis of the tecnological advances in the productive chain

Abstract

This work addresses the trajectory of the yerba-mate sector in the southern provinces of Brazil, over the years 1822 to 1889. To analyze the evolution of the changes from a handmade production to an industrial manufacturing, this paper proposes an approach to economic history supported by microeconomic
theories. For this purpose, this work pointed out an organizational sector division – according to the changes occurred in the mate’s production chain – and identified the implications of each phase for the qualitative
and quantitative aspects of the production, the sort of the labor employed and the commercial strategies adopted by producers. At the end, we concluded that the implementation of innovations in the mate’s activity in the Province of Paraná, supported by public and private investments, increased the production
in this region, contributing to the development of this segment and the local economy.