We modify the Hausmann-Klinger approach to estimating export potential and make it able to describe perspective shifts in export structure and identify commodity groups that form the basis for growth and structural change in exports.

In this paper we look at the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the context of structural transformation. We use Hidalgo et al.'s (2007) concept of product space to show the evolution of the region's productive structure, and discuss the opportunities for growth and...

Reviews the debate and the frameworks in terms of the concept of catching up, the policy issues raised, and the principles guiding the design of industrial policies. Provides a comparative analysis between the growth perspective and the institutional economics approach, draws lessons for the...

Developments in the post-crisis period in Russia were associated with the emergence of a number of new institutions that support interactions between government and business. Against this background, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), in our opinion, has been the most successful...

This essay surveys and evaluates Cuba’s economic performance since its economic “melt-down” of 1989-1993, outlines the government’s policy responses, and explores Cuba’s economic prospects. By 1995, the Cuban economy began to recover with some positive results but also with continuing...

Recent trade literature highlights the importance of export diversification and upgrading in fostering faster and sustainable economic growth. This study investigates the impact of FDI inflow and stock on the level of export diversification and sophistication in host country's export baskets. By...

This paper analyzes the effect of foreign aid on export diversification for a sample of developing countries while controlling for the effects of other factors that determine export diversification. We find that foreign aid not exceeding 20% of a country's GDP significantly promotes export...

The global financial crisis hit the economies of most commodities exporting countries of Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) mainly through trade and commodities prices collapse. Theoretical and empirical literature postulates debilitating effects of these on growth, poverty and sustainable development...

The paper examines the implications of lower trade barriers for sectoral diversification and macroeconomic stability in developing economies with a large primary goods sector. It shows that lower trade barriers can have ambiguous effects on macroeconomic stability. It shows also that...

The literature on trade facilitation has mostly focused on implications for trade volumes. However, recent theoretical contributions have emphasized that trade costs – such as transaction costs related to cross-border trade procedures – affect both the traded volumes of “old” goods (the...