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Technological convergence and trade patterns

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  • Robert Stehrer
  • Julia Wörz

Abstract

Casual evidence suggests that emerging and developing countries are often gaining market shares in world exports in technology-intensive sectors in the course of development. On the other hand textbook trade theory would suggest that these countries specialize in lower-tech industries. The reason for this is the assumption that the technology gap in these industries is lower and thus under the further assumption of equal wage rates across industries the developing countries have a comparative advantage in the lower-tech industries. In this paper we take a dynamic view on development and trade integration and distinguish three types of catching-up processes (the 'continuous convergence approach', the 'climbing up the ladder approach' and the 'jumping-up approach'). Using data for 25 countries and 32 industries we empirically analyse the different patterns of catching up over the period from 1981 to 1997. Further we discuss linkages between technological convergence, dynamics of comparative advantage and trade patterns.
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Suggested Citation

  • Robert Stehrer & Julia Wörz, 2003. "Technological convergence and trade patterns," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 139(2), pages 191-219, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:139:y:2003:i:2:p:191-219
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02659743
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quah, Danny T, 1996. "Twin Peaks: Growth and Convergence in Models of Distribution Dynamics," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(437), pages 1045-1055, July.
    2. Fagerberg, Jan, 1988. "International Competitiveness," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 98(391), pages 355-374, June.
    3. Danny Quah, 1996. "Twin Peaks: Growth and Convergence in Models of Distribution Dynamics," CEP Discussion Papers dp0280, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    4. Grupp, Hariolf, 1994. "The measurement of technical performance of innovations by technometrics and its impact on established technology indicators," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 23(2), pages 175-193, March.
    5. Bernard, Andrew B & Jones, Charles I, 1996. "Technology and Convergence," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(437), pages 1037-1044, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessia Amighini, 2005. "China in the international fragmentation of production: Evidence from the ICT industry," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 2(2), pages 203-219, December.
    2. Imre Ferto, 2007. "The Dynamics of Trade in Central and Eastern European Countries," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 5(1), pages 5-23.
    3. Andrea Finicelli & Massimo Sbracia & Andrea Zaghini, 2011. "A disaggregated analysis of the export performance of some industrial and emerging countries," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 93-113, April.
    4. Robert Stehrer, 2002. "Dynamics of Trade Integration and Technological Convergence," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 219-244.
    5. Youngjung Geum & Yongtae Park & Sungjoo Lee, 2013. "The Convergence of Manufacturing and Service Technologies: A Patent Analysis Approach," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 5(2), pages 99-107.
    6. Robert Stehrer & Julia Woerz, 2009. "Industrial Diversity, Trade Patterns, and Productivity Convergence," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(2), pages 356-372, May.
    7. Andrea Zaghini, 2005. "Evolution of trade patterns in the new EU member states," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 13(4), pages 629-658, October.
    8. Robert Hill & Daniel Melser, 2015. "Benchmark averaging and the measurement of changes in international income inequality," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 151(4), pages 767-801, November.
    9. Robert Stehrer, 2010. "The effects of factor and sector biased technical change revisited," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 65-94, February.
    10. Carsten Herrmann-Pillath, 2006. "The true story of wine and cloth, or: building blocks of an evolutionary political economy of international trade," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 383-417, October.
    11. Daniela Marconi & Valeria Rolli, 2007. "Comparative advantage patterns and domestic determinants in emerging countries: an analysis with a focus on technology," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 638, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    12. Robert Stehrer, 2004. "Can Trade Explain the Sector Bias of Skill-biased Technical Change?," wiiw Working Papers 30, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    13. Lucio Biggiero & Roberto Urbani, 2022. "Testing the convergence hypothesis: a longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of the world trade web through social network and statistical analyses," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 17(3), pages 713-777, July.
    14. Frederic Carluer, 2005. "Dynamics of Russian regional clubs: The time of divergence," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(6), pages 713-726.
    15. Bhushan Praveen Jangam & Badri Narayan Rath, 2020. "Cross-country convergence in global value chains: Evidence from club convergence analysis," International Economics, CEPII research center, issue 163, pages 134-146.
    16. Ivan Savin & Peter Winker, 2009. "Forecasting Russian Foreign Trade Comparative Advantages in the Context of a Potential WTO Accession," Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, vol. 1(2), pages 111-138, November.
    17. Murshed, Syed Mansoob & Serino, Leandro Antonio, 2011. "The pattern of specialization and economic growth: The resource curse hypothesis revisited," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 151-161, June.
    18. repec:wsr:wpaper:y:2007:i:006 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Stefan Bojnec & Matjaz Novak, 2006. "Technological Intensity and Patterns in Slovenian Merchandise Trade," Managing Global Transitions, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 4(1), pages 5-24.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Catching-up; dynamics of comparative advantage; trade and technology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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