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Technology and endowments as determinants of comparative advantage: Evidence from Mexico

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  • Amoroso, Nicolás
  • Chiquiar, Daniel
  • Ramos-Francia, Manuel

Abstract

We analyze whether the pattern of Mexico's comparative advantages in manufacturing trade flows, vis-à-vis its closest competitors, are related with productivity differentials (Ricardian hypothesis) or with differences in factor endowments (Heckscher-Ohlin hypothesis). The results suggest that Heckscher-Ohlin determinants tend to be more relevant than labor productivity differentials to explain the differences in the export patterns between Mexico and its competitors. This result holds even when we restrict the analysis to Mexico and other countries with relatively small differences in factor endowments, although in this case Ricardian comparative advantages gain some relevance.

Suggested Citation

  • Amoroso, Nicolás & Chiquiar, Daniel & Ramos-Francia, Manuel, 2011. "Technology and endowments as determinants of comparative advantage: Evidence from Mexico," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 164-196, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecofin:v:22:y:2011:i:2:p:164-196
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    2. Nyga-Łukaszewska Honorata & Napiórkowski Tomasz M., 2023. "Energy security as a source of international competitiveness in new EU member states," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 59(3), pages 209-224, September.
    3. Honorata Nyga-Łukaszewska & Tomasz M. Napiórkowski, 2022. "Does Energy Demand Security Affect International Competitiveness? Case of Selected Energy-Exporting OECD Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Abate, Gashaw T. & Badiane, Ousmane, 2018. "Determinants of African agricultural exports," IFPRI book chapters, in: Africa agriculture trade monitor 2018, chapter 5, pages 85-109, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    5. Esquivias, M.A., 2017. "The Change of Comparative Advantage of Agricultural Activities in East Java Within the Context of Asean Economic Integration," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 9(01), March.
    6. Cheng‐Te Lee & Shang‐Fen Wu, 2023. "Technology advantage, terms of trade, and pattern of trade," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 19(1), pages 166-174, March.
    7. Chiquiar Daniel & Ramos Francia Manuel, 2009. "Competitiveness and Growth of the Mexican Economy," Working Papers 2009-11, Banco de México.
    8. Nestor Gandelman & Osiris J. Parcero & Matilde Pereira & Flavia Roldán, 2021. "Ventajas comparativas reveladas en disciplinas científicas y tecnológicas en Uruguay," Documentos de Investigación 125, Universidad ORT Uruguay. Facultad de Administración y Ciencias Sociales.
    9. Dayal Talukder & Love Chile, 2018. "Technological Innovation And Total Factor Productivity Growth Of Rice Production In Bangladesh In The Post-Liberalisation Era," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 6(2), pages 50-70, December.
    10. Juan Blyde & Matias Busso & Kyunglin Park & Dario Romero, 2023. "Short‐ and long‐run labor market adjustment to import competition," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1552-1569, September.
    11. Rangel González, Erick & Torre Cepeda, Leonardo E., 2015. "Determinants of the cost of starting a business in Mexico," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 430-449.

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