Tariff liberalization and trade specialization: Lessons from India

Michele Alessandrini, Bassam Fattouh, Benno Ferrarini and Pasquale Scaramozzino

Journal of Comparative Economics, 2011, vol. 39, issue 4, 499-513

Abstract: This paper analyzes the effects of policy reform on the structure of India’s trade in manufactures, from 1990 to 2006. It computes comparative advantage indicators on the basis of disaggregated trade flow data and assesses the effects of trade liberalization on the evolution of India’s pattern of trade specialization. Industries where import tariffs have been reduced the most have experienced the highest increase in specialization. Moreover, trade liberalization has helped India improve its comparative advantage in industries with medium- to high-technology content, as well as in some of the industries enjoying the most robust growth in global demand. Liberalization policies have been instrumental in enhancing the international competitiveness of industries.

Keywords: Asia; India; Trade; Liberalization; Specialization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F14 O14 O24 O53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:39:y:2011:i:4:p:499-513

DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2011.03.004

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