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The Role of Services for Competitiveness in Manufacturing

Author

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  • Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås

    (OECD)

  • Yunhee Kim

    (OECD)

Abstract

This study analyses the relationships between competitiveness in manufacturing and the quality of key supporting services. Three indicators of competitiveness are considered: the degree of product differentiation, unit prices obtained in export markets and the duration of trade. The density of telecoms networks and the reliability of electricity supply stand out as the most crucial for competitive manufacturing. In addition the ease at which contracts can be enforced and the time it takes to export and import goods are strongly related to competitiveness. Our methodology allows us to go beyond a one size fits all policy analysis. Interestingly, we find that in low-income countries, the impact of services quality and policy on competitiveness is highest in low-technology industries; in middle-income countries it is highest in medium-technology sectors and in high-income countries the impact is highest in medium-high and high-technology industries. This suggests that better services contribute to moving up the value chain in industries where a country already has technological capacity and comparative advantage, but better services alone may not stimulate product differentiation in sectors where a country is far from the competitive edge – at least not in the short run. Policy reforms needed are to simplify procedures for contract enforcement, liberalisation of FDI, strengthen pro-competitive regulation of network services, and eliminate tariffs. It is concluded that new ways of doing business where manufacturers build relationships with customers and compete on the basis of products they are willing to pay a premium for has the potential to become an important driving force for growth after the great recession, provided that adequate support from competitive services markets is in place.

Suggested Citation

  • Hildegunn Kyvik Nordås & Yunhee Kim, 2013. "The Role of Services for Competitiveness in Manufacturing," OECD Trade Policy Papers 148, OECD Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:oec:traaab:148-en
    DOI: 10.1787/5k484xb7cx6b-en
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    Cited by:

    1. D’Adamo, Gaetano & Rovelli, Riccardo, 2015. "The role of the exchange rate regime in the process of real and nominal convergence," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 21-37.
    2. Oliver Arentz & Clemens Recker & Leonhard Münstermann & Steffen J. Roth, 2015. "Der Dienstleistungssektor in Deutschland: Überblick und Deregulierungspotenziale," Otto-Wolff-Institut Discussion Paper Series 01/2015, Otto-Wolff-Institut für Wirtschaftsordnung, Köln, Deutschland.
    3. José M. RUEDA‐CANTUCHE & Lucian CERNAT & Nuno SOUSA, 2019. "Trade and jobs in Europe: The role of mode 5 service exports," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 158(1), pages 115-136, March.
    4. Alexander Cordes & Birgit Gehrke, 2015. "Industrielle Entwicklung und funktionale Verschiebung in Europa: eine empirische Analyse ausgeübter Tätigkeiten," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 84(1), pages 79-101.
    5. Kasper Vrolijk, 2021. "Industrial policy and structural transformation: Insights from Ethiopian manufacturing," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 39(2), pages 250-265, March.
    6. Fernando Mistura & Caroline Roulet, 2019. "The determinants of Foreign Direct Investment: Do statutory restrictions matter?," OECD Working Papers on International Investment 2019/01, OECD Publishing.
    7. Roy, Martin, 2019. "Elevating services: Services trade policy, WTO commitments, and their role in economic development and trade integration," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2019-01, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    8. Erik der Marel & Sébastien Miroudot, 2014. "The economics and political economy of going beyond the GATS," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 9(2), pages 205-239, June.
    9. Pelli, Päivi, 2018. "Services and industrial development: analysis of industrial policy, trends and issues for the forest-based sector," Journal of Forest Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 17-26.
    10. Lobanov, M. & Zvezdanovic Lobanova, J. & Zvezdanovic, M., 2022. "Typologization of industrial systems in the countries of Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 56(4), pages 92-122.
    11. D'Adamo, Gaetano & Rovelli, Riccardo, 2013. "Labor Market Institutions and the Response of Inflation to Macro Shocks in the EU: A Two-Sector Analysis," IZA Discussion Papers 7616, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Patricia Walter, 2017. "Anatomy of Austria’s trade in services," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 1, pages 33-52.
    13. Neil Foster-McGregor & Mario Holzner & Michael Landesmann & Johannes Pöschl & Robert Stehrer & Roman Stöllinger, 2013. "A ‘Manufacturing Imperative’ in the EU – Europe's Position in Global Manufacturing and the Role of Industrial Policy," wiiw Research Reports 391, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    14. D'Adamo, Gaetano & Rovelli, Riccardo, 2015. "Labour Market Institutions and Inflation Differentials in the EU," IZA Discussion Papers 9389, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Bai, Zhuoran & Meng, Shuang & Miao, Zhuang & Zhang, Yan, 2019. "Services Liberalization and Export Diversity: Theory and Evidence from Chinese Firms," MPRA Paper 95862, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Fuster, Begoña & Lillo-Bañuls, Adelaida & Martínez-Mora, Carmen, 2020. "Reshoring of services and employment," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 233-246.
    17. Carmen Díaz-Mora & Rosario Gandoy & Belén González-Díaz, 2018. "Looking into global value chains: influence of foreign services on export performance," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 154(4), pages 785-814, November.
    18. Alessandro Sarra & Claudio Berardino & Davide Quaglione, 2019. "Deindustrialization and the technological intensity of manufacturing subsystems in the European Union," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 36(1), pages 205-243, April.
    19. MARSCHINSKI Robert & DE AMORES HERNANDEZ Antonio & AMOROSO Sara & BAUER Peter & CARDANI Roberta & CSEFALVAY Zoltan & GENTY Aurelien & GKOTSIS Petros & GREGORI Wildmer & GRASSANO Nicola & HERNANDEZ GUE, 2021. "EU competitiveness: recent trends, drivers, and links to economic policy: A Synthesis Report," JRC Research Reports JRC123232, Joint Research Centre.
    20. Christensen, Jesper Lindgaard, 2013. "The ability of current statistical classifications to separate services and manufacturing," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 47-60.
    21. Claudio Di Berardino & Ilaria Doganieri & Stefano D'Angelo & Gianni Onesti, 2023. "Intersectoral and intercountry linkages as drivers of employment growth in emerging economies: The case of Visegrád countries," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(1), pages 163-187, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    competitiveness; contract enforcement; electricity; new industrial revolution; services liberalisation; services regulatory reform; tariffs; telecommunications; transport costs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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