Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Diana Patricia Gutiérrez Mejía
Author-Name: Víctor Hugo Nauzán Ceballos
Author-Name: Yudy Marlen Bonilla Bonilla
Title:  Salarios de eficiencia, productividad, competitividad y oportunidades del Acuerdo Comercial con la Unión Europea en el sector agrícola de Cundinamarca - Colombia
Abstract: Resumen:Este artículo analiza la conveniencia de incorporar la teoría de Salarios de Eficiencia (SE) como estrategia para acrecentar la competitividad del sector agrícola de Cundinamarca - Colombia, dada la potencialidad del sector y la crisis alimentaria mundial. En principio se determina la probabilidad de existencia de los SE en el sector, partiendo de lo propuesto por Shapiro y Stiglitz (1984) con datos obtenidos de la secretaria de agricultura de Cundinamarca. A partir de los resultados encontrados se propone una estrategia para mejorar la competitividad del sector, fortaleciéndolo con miras a un proceso de internacionalización hacia la Unión Europea (UE).Abstract:Colombia is one of the countries with more opportunities to grow and contribute to economic development from the agricultural sector given its comparative advantages in terms of land extension and privilege in areas of productive vocation; To this is added the projections of FAO, that by the year 2050, the world population will grow around 9.1 million so that the country can contribute to world food security. Cundinamarca is one of the thirteen departments that make up the Andina Region in Colombia, the position of the region, consolidates it into a strategic node through which products are mobilized that in economic terms represent about 30% of GDP national, situation that represents great possibilities to consolidate the leadership, of the region and the country in the global scene. On the other hand, agricultural products represented 12.6% of GDP in 2016 according to the DANE. According to figures from the secretary of agriculture, the department uses only 29.01% of its hectares to farm activity, with a total of 252,907 hectares.
When determining the main variables that affect the productivity and competitiveness of the department, it will be possible to establish and implement tools that promote economic and social development, given the importance of the rural sector and agriculture are a priority in the region and in the country. Therefore, solutions such as better wages, internationalization processes that lead to the reduction of unemployment, increase of profits for employers and economic growth must be adopted.
For this study, the SE theory of Shapiro and Stiglitz (1984) is used as a tool to determine if SEs affect the productivity of the sector. Without leaving aside the proposal by Romer (2006), who ensures that high wages are efficient as they increase the benefits received by firms, in proportion to production costs.
This is an initial study (piloting) divided into six parts: first a documentary review is presented about the current situation of the competitive factors of the region and different theoretical aspects about the efficiency wages (SE), besides the importance of the exports as a growth factor under the Thirlwall model (2011), which has been applied to Colombia, along with a brief presentation of the FTA with the EU focused on the agricultural sector. Then, we present the methodology used, which is of a mixed type (qualitative - quantitative) supported by the model of Sahpiro and Stiglitz (1984):
w = rV_u + (r + b + q) e / q
Where;
 rVu: represents the unemployment rate
A: Represents the proportion of active income per employee
b: Represents the abandonment rate,
q: It is the probability of finding a worker outside the workplace.
e: It is the effort measured in terms of productivity.
We seek to know if there are SE and how the effort measured in terms of productivity per worker affects the range of wage income received, the role in productivity and competitiveness, specifically in agricultural products.
The results determine that the probability of finding SE in the sector is 28.03%, which reflects a low productivity, affecting the competitive at the regional level, according to several theorists on the subject such as Porter (1994).
The variable (q), the rate of work avoidance, reduces up to 1852% the probability of finding SE as compensation for the products sown and / or harvested. Given its inverse relationship and which is applicable to reality, since once they "catch" more easily workers by avoiding their work, they will be dismissed and will hinder the productive process. For the case of the active rate of profit (r), once a percentage point decreases, the probability of finding SE decreases by 0.01395%. The effort of the worker (e) on his part helps to increase the probability of giving SE in each harvest by 0.01745%. The abandonment rate (b) generates a high probability, 19192%, that this type of salary is given, since the farmer will want to pay more or a better salary in order to encourage the worker to stay for the harvest, and This is not lost. This high rate may reflect the low level of productivity and salary level received.
On the other hand, the Wald (W) test determined that the model is well adjusted, since the value of the statistic yielded by the program was greater than 5%, it was 19.16%.
Consequently, the model that determines the SE in the sector under study:
-18.52q-0.00013r + 0.00017 q + 191.92 b = ŵ
From the above it is concluded that the Cundinamarca region has great potential in terms of agricultural products, but it is considered that the productivity of the sector is low. One reason is the low income of people who work and depend on agricultural activities, which affects their quality of life because they can’t access good nutrition, quality education, among others, decreasing their productive capacity. This is consistent with sociological SE models such as that proposed by Akerlof (1982). In addition, there is a need to close the gaps between living and wage conditions between the rural and urban sectors in order to retain rural skilled labor, which leads to achieving a competitive and sustainable sector that has the capacity to face the challenges that come with the internationalization processes and thus take advantage of the opportunities offered by FTA such as the one in force with the EU.
It is recommended to work directly with the actors linked to the sector, which will allow knowing their perception about the level of wages received, compared to the level of welfare, in order to suggest strategies aimed at formulating public policies that contribute to improving the productive level, competitiveness, exports and social welfare in Cundinamarca. It will be possible to reduce the abandonment rate, improve and encourage technological and social innovation and generate research, which will be reflected in regional sustainability.
The proposed model determines that there are no efficiency wages for the agricultural sector in Cundinamarca, which affects the levels of productivity and therefore competitiveness and does not allow to take advantage of the existing trade agreement with the EU, which offers opportunities as developed in this research, and despite the great potential of the region. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out this study for each type of crop, with the purpose of establishing in a specific way wages should be rethought and their impact on productivity and competitiveness, all accompanied by policies to mitigate unemployment generated through the strengthening of other sectors such as tourism.
From this study, it could be concluded that it is necessary to establish a minimum wage for the rural sector of Cundinamarca, since this generates a certain degree of job security. The sociological model proposed by Akerlof (1982) should also be considered, in order to create a sense of belonging and other attitudes that motivate workers to increase their effort as gratitude towards the farmer, increasing their productivity and lowering supervision costs. Consistent with the need to level the rural wage, which according to official reports represents a proportion close to 70% of the minimum urban wage, should be articulated with the policies proposed by the Secretary of Competitiveness and Development of Cundinamarca, because it would not be logical to increase wages, if you do not have the conditions to reach markets like the EU, to obtain the necessary income to be able to pay them.
In summary, given the results of the model, the ideal would be to increase wages to the point where the probability of SE occurring is high, helping to improve competitiveness levels, without generating high unemployment and allowing internationalization processes to be tackled. , which at the same time can become the main tool to combat the negative effect of this type of wages. This will have positive consequences both for the local society and for the national and international ones from the alimentary point of view, since the problematic around the scarcity of food and level of poverty can’t be left aside, advancing in the fulfillment of the objectives of sustainable development.
Classification-JEL: R1
Keywords: Salarios, Índice de Productividad de Malmquist., Tratado de Libre Comercio, Deficiencia, Unión Europea., Wages Productivity, Free Trade Agreement, Efficiency, European Union.
Pages: 147-172
Volume: 3
Year: 2021
File-URL: http://www.revistaestudiosregionales.com/documentos/articulos/pdf-articulo-2621.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:rer:articu:v:3:y:2021:p:147-172