Evolution of the specialization of China’s exports according to their technological content

Ana Salvador, Eduardo Fernández-Huerga and Ana Pardo

Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, 2020, vol. 25, issue 2, 326-347

Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze how China’s export specialization (and its global trade position in general) has evolved according to technological content for the 1987–2015 period. To that end, first, exports are classified by technological content to analyze the evolution of their composition. Second, the export specialization is studied using the Revealed Comparative Advantage Index. Then, the evolution of China’s competitive position in the world trade in goods is analyzed according to their technological content using three indices that combine export and import data: the Relative Trade Balance index, the Contribution to the Trade Balance index and the Market Position index. The results obtained confirm that the technological content of Chinese exports has shown a remarkable improvement, mainly in some high-technology (electrical and electronic products) and in medium-technology (mechanical engineering products) products. Nevertheless, China’s greatest trade strength continues to be products with low technological content.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1080/13547860.2019.1653248

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