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On the Economics of Regional Powers: Comparing China, India, Brazil, and South Africa

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  • Kappel, Robert

Abstract

As the conception of and debates on regional powers have been led by political science, this pa-per aims to contribute to the discussion from an economics perspective. Based on the discussion of different concepts of economic power - such as those of Schumpeter, Perroux, Predöhl, or Kindleberger - concepts of technological leadership, and the global value chain approaches, the paper develops a research framework for the economics of regional powers. This framework is then tested using descriptive statistics as well as regressions analysis, with a focus on the four regional powers Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. As economic power is relational, the re-lationship of regional powers to other nations in the region is analyzed. According to the findings, only limited statements on the economics of regional powers are possible: a regional power can be described as an economy with a relatively large population and land area which plays a dominant role in trade within the region and in the regional governance. The regional power develops its technological capacities, and its businesses act regionally and globally with increasing strength.

Suggested Citation

  • Kappel, Robert, 2010. "On the Economics of Regional Powers: Comparing China, India, Brazil, and South Africa," GIGA Working Papers 145, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:gigawp:145
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    1. Kappel, Robert, 2010. "Verschiebung der globalen Machtverhältnisse durch den Aufstieg von Regionalen Führungsmächten: China, Indien, Brasilien und Südafrika [The Rise of Regional Powers and Shifting Global Relations:Comp," GIGA Working Papers 146, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    2. Gabriela-Liliana CIOBAN, 2015. "THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE EU AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE INCREASE IN POPULATION’S STANDARD OF LIVING Abstract : The basic structure of our research for this article focuses on identifying, with ," EcoForum, "Stefan cel Mare" University of Suceava, Romania, Faculty of Economics and Public Administration - Economy, Business Administration and Tourism Department., vol. 4(Special I), pages 1-2, august.
    3. Jinhui Li & Gwang-Nam Rim & Chol-Ju An, 2023. "Comparative Study of Knowledge-Based Economic Strength Between China and the USA," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 14(4), pages 4256-4292, December.
    4. Sebastian Krapohl & Katharina L. Meissner & Johannes Muntschick, 2014. "Regional Powers as Leaders or Rambos? The Ambivalent Behaviour of Brazil and South Africa in Regional Economic Integration," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(4), pages 879-895, July.
    5. Never, Babette, 2013. "Toward the Green Economy: Assessing Countries' Green Power," GIGA Working Papers 226, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Brazil; China; economic geography; economic leadership; economic power; growth; India; investment; public goods; regional powers; regression analysis; South Africa; technological change; value chain; trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • B1 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925
    • B29 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Other
    • C01 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Econometrics
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • F59 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Other

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