The Trade Competitiveness of Southern Emerging Economies: A Multidimensional Approach Through Cluster Analysis
The World Economy, Volume 37, Issue 6, pages 783–810, June 2014 doi: 10.111/twec.12195
Posted: 19 May 2014 Last revised: 13 Jun 2014
Date Written: May 8, 2014
Abstract
This paper investigates the trade competitiveness of the new emerging Southern economies – China, India, Brazil and South Africa (CIBS) – with respect to their main global partners. Starting from the commonly held view that countries with trade patterns similar to those of emerging countries are likely to suffer losses, we propose a multidimensional approach based on cluster analysis, both crisp and fuzzy, as an alternative strategy for assessing similarity in global trade patterns. On the basis of key trade characteristics drawn from the diverse strands of trade theory, we assess the relative position of CIBS within global trade patterns and their evolution over time. Unlike previous studies, our results do not support the hypothesis of the presence of a competitiveness threat from Southern emerging countries towards the main industrialised economies.
Keywords: trade competitiveness, trade similarity, emerging economies, CIBS, crisp and fuzzy cluster analysis
JEL Classification: F14, F15, O19, O57, C38
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