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Competitiveness – A Comparison of China and Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Immaculada Martínez-Zarzoso
  • Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann D.
  • Sebastian Vollmer

Abstract

Latin American countries have lost competitiveness in world markets in comparison to China over the last two decades. The main purpose of this study is to examine the causes of this development. To this end an augmented Ricardian model is estimated using panel data. The explanatory variables considered are productivity, unit labor costs, unit values, trade costs, price levels (in PPP), and real exchange rates in relative terms. Due to data restrictions, China’s relative exports (to the US, Argentina, Japan, Korea, UK, Germany, and Spain) will be compared to Mexico’s exports for a number of sectors over a period of eleven years. Panel and pooled estimation techniques (SUR-estimation, panel Feasible Generalized Least Squares (panel/pooled FGLS)) will be utilized to better control for country-specific effects (differences between American, Argentinian, Japanese, Korean, German, British, and Spanish markets), cross-section specific (sector-specific) effects, and correlation over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Immaculada Martínez-Zarzoso & Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann D. & Sebastian Vollmer, 2007. "Competitiveness – A Comparison of China and Mexico," CESifo Working Paper Series 2111, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_2111
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Janet Ceglowski & Stephen S. Golub, 2012. "Does China Still Have a Labor Cost Advantage?," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(3), pages 1-30, August.

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