Does What You Export Matter?

Does What You Export Matter? PDF

Author: Daniel Lederman

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2012-06-18

Total Pages: 153

ISBN-13: 0821384910

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Does what economies export matter for development? If so, can industrial policies improve on the export basket generated by the market? This book approaches these questions from a variety of conceptual and policy viewpoints. Reviewing the theoretical arguments in favor of industrial policies, the authors first ask whether existing indicators allow policy makers to identify growth-promoting sectors with confidence. To this end, they assess, and ultimately cast doubt upon, the reliability of many popular indicators advocated by proponents of industrial policy. Second, and central to their critique, the authors document extraordinary differences in the performance of countries exporting seemingly identical products, be they natural resources or 'high-tech' goods. Further, they argue that globalization has so fragmented the production process that even talking about exported goods as opposed to tasks may be misleading. Reviewing evidence from history and from around the world, the authors conclude that policy makers should focus less on what is produced, and more on how it is produced. They analyze alternative approaches to picking winners but conclude by favoring 'horizontal-ish' policies--for instance, those that build human capital or foment innovation in existing and future products—that only incidentally favor some sectors over others.

Financialisation in Latin America

Financialisation in Latin America PDF

Author: Noemi Levy

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2018-12-07

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 0429874421

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Financial capital continues to dominate Western economic organisations, despite major financial and economic crises. While these have not affected Latin American countries in the same way, other economic problems emerged after the reversion of loose monetary policies that debilitated the export-led growth model. This book discusses the issue of the financialised globalisation model in Latin America, looking at the region’s relationship with the international market. This edited collection is divided into three main sections. The first section discusses regional trends highlighting issues of trade and payments in financialised economies, the impact on deindustrialisation, its effect on inequality, external capital movements and monetary policies. The second section analyses the failure of comparative advantages of the export-led model in Colombia, Argentina and Mexico. Finally, the last section deals with the growth of financial balance sheets in small and developing economies such as Chile; how growth, investment and big corporation evolution were affected in Brazil and Mexico; and the effects of foreign exchange activity in Mexico. Through these discussions, this book aims to deepen the understanding of the crisis of financialisation and the export-led model, raising the question of whether it is possible for this model to continue or if it requires major readjustments to unfold economic growth. This book provides a distinctive analysis of the financialisation mechanisms in developing countries in order to emphasise affinities and differences between the countries of the region in productive and financial terms. It will be of great interest to economic and social science scholars and students, to journalists specialising on economic and development issues, and, more importantly, to policy makers.

Export Instability and Economic Development

Export Instability and Economic Development PDF

Author: Alasdair Macbean

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2012-07-26

Total Pages: 370

ISBN-13: 1136877665

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When this work was first published in 1966, there was much interest in various types of commodity agreements and compensatory financing as methods of reducing the effects of export fluctuations on the economies of developing countries. The book concluded that short term fluctuations in export earnings, though perhaps important for some countries, did not appear to be the general problem that had been assumed. If correct, it would suggest that any measures should be carefully designed to fit the situations of countries that were affected and be subjected to cost-benefit analysis. This led to many published and unpublished studies on the issues: some supported, others contradicted the book’s conclusions. The data available now are vastly greater and probably more accurate than pre-1966. However, the work and the issues it raised remain important because most schemes proposed to reduce export instability would be costly and likely to divert resources from uses more obviously aimed at raising economic development in most developing countries.

Market Access for Developing Country Exports - Selected Issues

Market Access for Developing Country Exports - Selected Issues PDF

Author: International Monetary Fund

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2002-09-26

Total Pages: 58

ISBN-13: 1498328202

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In this paper, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have drawn together available research findings on the benefits of trade liberalization as well as on the obstacles to trade-oriented development.

Struggle Against Dependence

Struggle Against Dependence PDF

Author: Eva Paus

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-07-11

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 1000313409

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Today, most of the countries in Central America and the Caribbean share a common set of problems and structural characteristics that are the result of a similar history of economic development. The specific articulation of these characteristics and the severity of the economic problems in any particular country, of course, vary. In general, the economies of the region are small, agricultural export economies. Sugar, bananas, coffee, and meat have been the main export items for most countries, but natural resource exports-bauxite and oil-have played a key role for a few Caribbean countries.

Behind the Numbers

Behind the Numbers PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1992-02-01

Total Pages: 312

ISBN-13: 0309045908

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America's international economic decisions rest to a large degree on the information available to policymakers. Yet the quality of international trade and financial data is in serious doubt. This book reveals how our systems for collecting and analyzing trade data have fallen behind the times-and presents recommendations for new approaches to accuracy and usefulness of these economic data. The volume traces the burgeoning use of international economic data by public and private analysts at a time when the United States is becoming increasingly integrated into the world economy. It also points out problems of capturing new transactions, comparing data from different sources, limited access to the data, and more. This is the first volume to review all three types of U.S. international data-merchandise trade, international services transactions, and capital flows. Highlights include: Specific steps for U.S. agencies to take. Special analyses on improving the accuracy of merchandise trade data, filling data gaps on the fast-growing international services transactions, and understanding structural changes in world capital markets. Comments, complaints, and suggestions from an original survey of more than 100 key users of trade data. This practical volume will be invaluable to policymakers, government officials, business executives, economists, statisticians, and researchers.