ABSTRACT: Geographical Indication (GI) is a form of intellectual property applied to goods and services recognized for their geographical origin. They can also serve as tools for territorial development and might help mitigate the effects of crises, such as the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the importance of GIs in the territorial development of Brazilian municipalities during the pandemic. In the Brazilian context, GIs appear as a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon; therefore, many studies focus on a single type of product or specific cases. However, this research proposes a broader analysis. To this end, agri-food GIs — the segment with the highest number of registrations in the country — were analyzed through quantitative research using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method. Economic indicators such as GDP per capita, variation in the number of businesses, total employment, and employment in the agricultural sector were considered, based on data collected from IBGE, MTE, and MAPA. The results show that GIs played a significant role in the pandemic period by mitigating its economic impact on Brazilian municipalities. Municipalities with at least one GI in their territory showed better performance in the recovery of GDP per capita and total employment, while those with two or more GIs exhibited more pronounced positive differentials. The presence of GIs was associated with an increase in employment per capita, particularly when compared to municipalities without GIs. However, no statistically significant effects were identified regarding the variation in the number of establishments. In the agricultural sector, the effects were significant only for municipalities with multiple GIs, indicating the existence of a multiplier effect. Overall, the findings highlight the contribution of GIs to economic resilience during the pandemic. The data reveal that geographical indications can be used as public policy instruments to promote territorial development and strengthen economic resilience in times of crisis. The appreciation of local products, the strengthening of production chains, and the articulation among public and private actors are key elements. Furthermore, the importance of institutional support and initiatives aimed at promoting and disseminating GIs is emphasized as a means to enhance their effects on territories.
Leite et al. (Sun,) studied this question.