Proximity and Horizontal Policies: The Backbone of Export Diversification

Author/Editor:

Gonzalo Salinas

Publication Date:

March 5, 2021

Electronic Access:

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Summary:

The lack of a clear link between general economic fundamentals and export diversification indicators in the literature has fueled the believe that industrial policies are an absolute requisite to diversify exports. This paper, however, does find a strong statistical connection between horizontal policies and diversification by making two novel changes to traditional methodologies: using export categories that lead to diversification (for example, manufactures) as dependent variables, and using a gravity-equation regression setting. Proximity to other economies explains about a third of cross-country heterogeneity in targeted exports, and four fifths together with horizontal policies. Australia, Chile, and New Zealand emerge as new role models for diversification policies.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2021/064

Subject:

Frequency:

regular

English

Publication Date:

March 5, 2021

ISBN/ISSN:

9781513571614/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2021064

Pages:

45

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