The aim of this paper is explore the spatial distribution of the interregional trade among the 27 Brazilian states for the years 1985 and 1997. To implement this methodology we use, as a dataset, the interregional exports and imports flows (CONFAZ and IBGE). Based on a set of tools of spatial analysis it is possible to detect the presence of global and local spatial autocorrelation in the distribution of trade and its components. The results of LISA statistics enable us to observe the presence of spatial heterogeneity in the interregional trade during the period of analysis. This paper concludes that the detection of spatial clusters of high and low interregional trade throughout the period is an indication of the persistence of spatial disparities among the Brazilian states.
exploratory spatial analysis; spatial autocorrelation; spatial heterogeneity; Brazilian economy
