This paper examines Vietnam’s export performance in the process of economic transition. The key theme of analysis is the complementary role of domestic policy shifts and the ongoing changes in world trade patterns in determining trends and patterns of exports. The analysis yields clear evidence that when market forces are unleashed, albeit in a constrained fashion, specialisation patterns assert themselves as predicted by the received trade theory. On the contrary, there is no evidence to suggest that the state-mediated attempts in the early stage of reforms to mould the emerging patterns of manufacturing exports had any tangible effect. Vietnam’s export performance looks impressive, particularly when we take into account the nature of the reform process, and the constraining effects of the US trade embargo during the first decade of reforms and the historic overwhelming reliance on the Soviet-block markets.
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Paper provided by Australian National University, Economics RSPAS in its series Departmental Working Papers with number
2009-05.
Find related papers by JEL classification: F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Country and Industry Studies of Trade F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions O24 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy
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