Globalization and Economic Development

Posted: 17 May 2006

See all articles by Sven W. Arndt

Sven W. Arndt

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance

Abstract

A feature of the continuing integration of the world economy is the globalization of production and the consequent rise of trade in parts and components. Products are more internationalized and less identified with any particular country. Non-trivial shares of the value-added of many exports consist of imports and vice versa. Extension of the international division of labour beyond finished products offers developing countries a broader range of choices for industrialization. This paper explores the implications of these developments in the context of a standard trade model. Component specialization in a developing country's import sector is shown to be superior in overall welfare terms to specialization in the integrated product. Output and employment are higher in the sector, but the wage-rental ratio is lower.

Keywords: Trade, division of labour, intermediate products, fragmentation, intra-product specialization

JEL Classification: F11, D5

Suggested Citation

Arndt, Sven W., Globalization and Economic Development. Journal of International Trade and Economic Development, Vol.8, No.3, September 1999, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=902722

Sven W. Arndt (Contact Author)

Claremont McKenna College - Robert Day School of Economics and Finance ( email )

500 E. Ninth St.
Claremont, CA 91711-6420
United States

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