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Comparative Advantage in UK Manufacturing Trade, 1910-1935

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  • Crafts, Nicholas
  • Thomas, Stephen H

Abstract

This paper uses a maintained hypothesis of comparative advantage based on relative factor endowments to investigate UK manufacturing trade prior to World War II. The results from several independent tests indicate that Britain exported goods intensive in the use of unskilled labour and had a comparative disadvantage in goods intensive in the use of human capital right up to the mid 1930s. This is consistent with the views of contemporaries but somewhat at odds with recent optimistic assessments of structural change in pre-war Britain.

Suggested Citation

  • Crafts, Nicholas & Thomas, Stephen H, 1985. "Comparative Advantage in UK Manufacturing Trade, 1910-1935," CEPR Discussion Papers 83, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:83
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    Cited by:

    1. William K. Hutchinson, 2002. "Explaining United States International Trade, 1870-1910," Vanderbilt University Department of Economics Working Papers 0205, Vanderbilt University Department of Economics.
    2. Oded Galor & Andrew Mountford, 2008. "Trading Population for Productivity: Theory and Evidence," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 75(4), pages 1143-1179.
    3. V. N. Balasubramanyam & M. Salisu & David Sapsford, 1999. "Foreign direct investment as an engine of growth," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 27-40.
    4. Kevin H. O'Rourke & Jeffrey G. Williamson & T. J. Hatton, 1993. "Mass migration, commodity market integration and real wage convergence : the late nineteenth century Atlantic economy," Working Papers 199325, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    5. Gary R. Saxonhouse, 1993. "Economic Growth and Trade Relations: Japanese Performance in Long-Term Perspective," NBER Chapters, in: Trade and Protectionism, pages 149-182, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Kabeer Bora, 2023. "Importing sobrie'tea': Understanding the tea trade during the Industrial Revolution," Working Paper Series, Department of Economics, University of Utah 2023_06, University of Utah, Department of Economics.
    7. Crafts, N. F. R. & Leybourne, S. J. & Mills, T. C., 1988. "Economic Growth In Nineteeth Century Britain: Comparisons With Europe In The Context Of Gerschenkron'S Hypotheses," Economic Research Papers 268342, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    8. Keld Laursen, 2015. "Revealed comparative advantage and the alternatives as measures of international specialization," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(1), pages 99-115, June.
    9. Teresa Silva Lopes & Paulo Guimaraes, 2014. "Trademarks and British dominance in consumer goods, 1876–1914," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 67(3), pages 793-817, August.
    10. Harry P. Bowen & Leo Sveikauskas, 1992. "Judging Factor Abundance," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 107(2), pages 599-620.
    11. Greasley, David & Oxley, Les, 1998. "Comparing British and American Economic and Industrial Performance 1860-1993: A Time Series Perspective," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 171-195, April.
    12. Brian D. Varian, 2020. "The manufacturing comparative advantages of late-Victorian Britain," Cliometrica, Springer;Cliometric Society (Association Francaise de Cliométrie), vol. 14(3), pages 479-506, September.
    13. Irwin, Douglas A., 1995. "The lion's share: Britain's export performance revisited, 1899-1929," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 97-109, March.

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