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Does a Leapfrogging Growth Strategy Raise Growth Rate? Some International Evidence

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  • Zhi Wang
  • Shang-Jin Wei
  • Anna Wong

Abstract

While openness to trade is a well-recognized hallmark of many successful emerging market economies known as "growth miracles," another component of the growth model is a leapfrogging strategy - the use of policies to guide the industrial structural transformation ahead of a country's factor endowment. Does the leapfrogging strategy work? Opinions vary but the evidence is scarce in part because it is more difficult to measure the degree of leapfrogging than the extent of trade openness. We undertake a systematic look at the evidence across countries to assess the efficacy of such a strategy. So far, there is no strong and robust evidence that this strategy works reliably. Future research can explore a number of refinements.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhi Wang & Shang-Jin Wei & Anna Wong, 2010. "Does a Leapfrogging Growth Strategy Raise Growth Rate? Some International Evidence," NBER Working Papers 16390, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:16390
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    1. Su, Xiaoyan & Anwar, Sajid & Zhou, Ying & Tang, Xuan, 2020. "Services trade restrictiveness and manufacturing export sophistication," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    2. Ferrarini, Benno & Scaramozzino, Pasquale, 2016. "Production complexity, adaptability and economic growth," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 52-61.
    3. Söderbom, Måns & Weng, Qian, 2012. "Multi-product firms, product mix changes and upgrading: Evidence from China's state-owned forest areas," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 801-818.
    4. P.V. Srinivasan, 2013. "Dynamics of structural transformation in South Asia," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 20(2), pages 53-88, December.
    5. Baliamoune-Lutz, Mina, 2019. "Trade sophistication in developing countries: Does export destination matter?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 39-51.
    6. Martin Grancay & Nora Grancay & Tomas Dudas, 2015. "What You Export Matters: Does It Really?," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 9(2), June.

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    JEL classification:

    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies

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