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Abstract
The present paper analyzes the scale and the technical efficiency of the
agricultural cooperatives in the Paraná state, and identifies the factors that are related with
their efficiency. The methodology is based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and
discriminant analysis. Results demonstrate that large agricultural cooperatives are more
efficient than the small ones. The main factors that influence the efficiency are own capital
(equity) and smaller payment periods. In synthesis, to reach larger levels of competitiveness,
the agricultural cooperatives need to develop better defined capitalization practices.