Cost structure and integration in the agro-food sectors: A comparative study in EC countries

Summary Measured by Theil's U index, the distance among the columns of Leontief's technical coefficients shows the main differences among the processes of production. Drawn from the input-output table, the B matrix defines the shares of the each sector output, directly and indirectly activated by the final demand of different goods; it gives the backward and forward linkages. Through the U index and the B matrix, the article examines the structure of costs and the degree of integration in EC agro-industrial sectors. The analysis of results shows some noticeable differences among countries. It follows that the structural and price support policies are partially inadequate.