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Economic diversification: Explaining the pattern of diversification in the global economy and its implications for fostering diversification in poorer countries

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  • Freire Junior, Clovis

    (United Nations, Division for Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University)

Abstract

Economic diversification is very relevant for poorer developing countries to create jobs and foster economic development. That need has been recognised in key internationally agreed development goals. The empirical economic literature has identified several stylised facts about the pattern of diversification of economies, but the development of explanations for those patterns in general has been only loosely associated with economic theory on growth, trade, technology change and structural transformation. Making that connection is relevant because it could inform policymakers in developing countries in designing and implementing policies for promoting diversification. This paper presents a model of structural economic dynamics and endogenous technological change that is able to replicate empirical regularities related to economic diversification. The model is used to study strategies to foster diversification in poorer countries, which could help to better target action in the implementation of internationally agreed goals related to the economic diversification of these countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Freire Junior, Clovis, 2017. "Economic diversification: Explaining the pattern of diversification in the global economy and its implications for fostering diversification in poorer countries," MERIT Working Papers 2017-033, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2017033
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    Cited by:

    1. Ananthan Nambiar & Tobias Rubel & James McCaull & Jon deVries & Mark Bedau, 2021. "Dropping diversity of products of large US firms: Models and measures," Papers 2110.08367, arXiv.org.
    2. Weber, Regine & Bubbico, Antonio & Morales Opazo, Cristian, 2022. "Diversification perspectives of Guyana’s agrifood sector," ESA Working Papers 324078, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Diversification; Economic Complexity; Structural Transformation; Productive Capacities; Economic Development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E14 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Austrian; Evolutionary; Institutional
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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