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Policies for Industrial Learning in China and Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Kevin P. Gallagher

    (Research and Information System for Developing Countries)

  • Mehdi Shafaeddin

Abstract

Previous work has shown that the results of both China and Mexicos export-led market reforms over the past quarter century have been strikingly different. In contrast to China, Mexico has not managed to increase the value added of its exports of manufactured goods and has subsequently had a difficult time competing with China in world markets. Building on this previous work, in this paper we conduct a comparative analysis of the role of government policies in industrial learning and the development of capabilities of indigenous firms in Mexico and China in order to shed light on why China is outperforming Mexico. We find that Mexico and China have had starkly different approaches to economic reform in this area. Mexicos approach to reform has been followed a neo-liberal path, whereas Chinas approach could be described as neo-developmental. Mexicos hands-off approach to learning has resulted in a lack of development of endogenous capacity of domestic firms, little transfer of technology, negligible progress in the upgrading of industrial production, and little increase in value added of exports. By contrast, China has deployed a hands-on approach of targeting and nurturing domestic firms through a gradual and trial and error led set of government policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin P. Gallagher & Mehdi Shafaeddin, 2009. "Policies for Industrial Learning in China and Mexico," Trade Working Papers 22782, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:eab:tradew:22782
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    File URL: http://www.eaber.org/node/22782
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Remembering Alice Amsden: Catching up or Falling Behind?
      by Mehdi Shafaeddin in Triple Crisis on 2012-03-19 18:38:40

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Shafaeddin, Mehdi, 2010. "Trade liberalization, industrialization and development; experience of recent decades," MPRA Paper 26355, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Richard Kozul-Wright & Daniel Poon, 2018. "Asian development after the Asian Drama," WIDER Working Paper Series 135, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Shafaeddin, Mehdi, 2010. "The rationale for South-South trade; An Alternative Approach," MPRA Paper 26354, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Richard Kozul-Wright & Daniel Poon, 2018. "Asian development after the Asian Drama," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-135, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Shafaeddin, Mehdi, 2009. "The Impact of the Global Economic Crisis on Industrialization of Least Developed Countries," MPRA Paper 18788, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Aguiar de Medeiros, Carlos & Trebat, Nicholas, 2016. "Latin America at a Crossroads: Controversies on Growth, Income Distribution and Structural Change," Centro Sraffa Working Papers CSWP22, Centro di Ricerche e Documentazione "Piero Sraffa".
    7. Shafaeddin, Mehdi, 2010. "The Role of China in Regional South-South Trade in Asia-Pacific: Prospects for industrialization of the low-income countries," MPRA Paper 26358, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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