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Trade Expansion, International Competitiveness and the Pursuit of Export Diversification in Bangladesh

Author

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  • SARKER, RAKHAL

    (Associate Professor, Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada)

Abstract

While export diversification has been central to many policy dialogues in Bangladesh, little effort has been made to investigate international competitiveness of major export sectors using longitudinal data. This paper contributes to the export diversification literature by measuring and comparing international export competitiveness of five major export sectors in Bangladesh employing data from 1980 to 2013. The expansion of readymade garments export from Bangladesh has been phenomenal. Exports of fish and seafood also increased slowly. The exports of other three sectors, however, declined. While three of the five sectors considered in this study enjoyed international competitiveness, the export competitiveness of only two sectors increased over time. These results underscore export diversification challenges faced by Bangladesh and possible pathways.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarker, Rakhal, 2018. "Trade Expansion, International Competitiveness and the Pursuit of Export Diversification in Bangladesh," Bangladesh Development Studies, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), vol. 41(02), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:badest:0820
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Arifa Jannat & Kentaka Aruga & Jun Furuya & Miyuki Iiyama, 2022. "Investigating the Impact of International Markets on Imported and Exported Non-Cereal Crops in Bangladesh," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Ghulam Mustafa & Saqib Hussain, 2023. "What Are The Factors Making Pakistan’s Exports Stagnant? Insight From Literature Review," PIDE Knowledge Brief 2023:99, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics.
    3. Ghulam Mustafa & Saqib Hussain, 2023. "What are the Factors Making Pakistan’s Exports Stagnant? Insight from Literature Review," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 62(3), pages 449-460.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Export Diversification; International Competitiveness; Normalized RevealedComparative Advantage Index; Major Export Sectors; Bangladesh;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F63 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Economic Development
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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