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Old, not yet rich? The impact of population aging on export upgrading in developing countries

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  • Wu, Feifei
  • Yang, Hongna
  • Gao, Bo
  • Gu, Yan

Abstract

Does population aging in developing countries, which undermines their traditional export advantages, prevent them upgrading export? Using the method of instrument variables, this paper empirically shows that population aging significantly and adversely affects export upgrading in developing countries. Moreover, the negative impact of population aging is mainly channeled through innovation and human capital. Furthermore, the negative impact of population aging on export upgrading is not present in developed countries and is decreasing in recent years of developing countries. This is possibly due to the inferior institutions and slow adoption of automation in developing countries. Lastly, this paper extends the analysis to a disaggregated level, where the results suggest that an aging country indeed exports less of the products with higher quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Feifei & Yang, Hongna & Gao, Bo & Gu, Yan, 2021. "Old, not yet rich? The impact of population aging on export upgrading in developing countries," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:70:y:2021:i:c:s1043951x21001255
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101707
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    Cited by:

    1. Kexu Wu & Zhiwei Tang & Longpeng Zhang, 2022. "Population Aging, Industrial Intelligence and Export Technology Complexity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Xiao Shen & Jingbo Liang & Jiangning Cao & Zhengwen Wang, 2022. "How Population Aging Affects Industrial Structure Upgrading: Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Ke Zhang & Hao Sun & Xiangyu Li, 2022. "Aging Population Spatial Distribution Discrepancy and Impacting Factor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Population aging; Export upgrading; Mechanism; Heterogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F16 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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