Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

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dialnet-ar-18-ART00014486292021-04-20Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican RepublicMaldonado, Leonardo J.This paper explores international trade data, classified by technology-intensiveness and type of products, to identify stylized facts, strengths, and weaknesses of the trade patterns in the region of Central America and the Dominican Republic, between 1975 and 2016. I focus the analysis not only on the total export of the region but on its exports to the United States (main trade partner). I examine export concentration, comparative advantages, trade specialization, and relative quality of the export basket (characterizing zones with high tax incentives in the region, free zones). The main findings suggest that the region has made little progress in improving trade accounts. The gains in diversification are being lost, the comparative advantages have historically remained in traditional exports, and the region does not appear to export quality to the world. The model of tax incentives is not generating local spillovers, and the relative quality of exports, as well as the specialization patterns, revive the idea of adjusting promotion schemes for local industry and direct investment. It is time for a competitiveness agenda.Este documento revisa datos de comercio internacional, clasificados por intensidad tecnológica y tipo de productos, para identificar hechos estilizados, fortalezas y debilidades de los patrones comerciales en la región de Centroamérica y la República Dominicana, entre 1975 y 2016. El análisis se enfoca en la exportación total de la región y su exportación a los Estados Unidos (principal socio comercial). Se examina la concentración de exportaciones, las ventajas comparativas, la especialización comercial y la calidad relativa de la canasta de exportaciones (caracterizando zonas con altos incentivos fiscales en la región, zonas francas). Se evidencia que la región ha progresado poco en la mejora de su intercambio comercial. Las ganancias en diversificación se están perdiendo, las ventajas comparativas se han mantenido históricamente en las exportaciones tradicionales, y la región no parece exportar calidad al mundo. El modelo de incentivos fiscales no está generando efectos locales, y la calidad relativa de las exportaciones y los patrones de especialización reviven la idea de ajustar los esquemas de promoción para la industria local y la inversión directa. Es hora de una agenda de competitividad.2020text (article)application/pdfhttps://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/oaiart?codigo=7863574(Revista) ISSN 0719-9368Latin American Journal of Trade Policy, ISSN 0719-9368, Vol. 3, Nº. 7, 2020 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Latin American Journal of Trade Policy), pags. 19-37engLICENCIA DE USO: Los documentos a texto completo incluidos en Dialnet son de acceso libre y propiedad de sus autores y/o editores. Por tanto, cualquier acto de reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública y/o transformación total o parcial requiere el consentimiento expreso y escrito de aquéllos. Cualquier enlace al texto completo de estos documentos deberá hacerse a través de la URL oficial de éstos en Dialnet. Más información: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/info/derechosOAI | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS STATEMENT: Full text documents hosted by Dialnet are protected by copyright and/or related rights. This digital object is accessible without charge, but its use is subject to the licensing conditions set by its authors or editors. Unless expressly stated otherwise in the licensing conditions, you are free to linking, browsing, printing and making a copy for your own personal purposes. All other acts of reproduction and communication to the public are subject to the licensing conditions expressed by editors and authors and require consent from them. Any link to this document should be made using its official URL in Dialnet. More info: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/info/derechosOAI

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Latin American Journal of Trade Policy, ISSN 0719-9368, Vol. 3, Nº. 7, 2020 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Latin American Journal of Trade Policy), pags. 19-37

English

This paper explores international trade data, classified by technology-intensiveness and type of products, to identify stylized facts, strengths, and weaknesses of the trade patterns in the region of Central America and the Dominican Republic, between 1975 and 2016. I focus the analysis not only on the total export of the region but on its exports to the United States (main trade partner). I examine export concentration, comparative advantages, trade specialization, and relative quality of the export basket (characterizing zones with high tax incentives in the region, free zones). The main findings suggest that the region has made little progress in improving trade accounts. The gains in diversification are being lost, the comparative advantages have historically remained in traditional exports, and the region does not appear to export quality to the world. The model of tax incentives is not generating local spillovers, and the relative quality of exports, as well as the specialization patterns, revive the idea of adjusting promotion schemes for local industry and direct investment. It is time for a competitiveness agenda.

Article

Maldonado, Leonardo J.

Maldonado, Leonardo J.
Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Maldonado, Leonardo J.

Maldonado, Leonardo J.

Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

Trade Patterns in Central America and the Dominican Republic

trade patterns in central america and the dominican republic

2020

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/oaiart?codigo=7863574

1709754473536028672