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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate changes of China’s agri-food exports to Germany caused by China’s accession to WTO and the global financial crisis in a quantitative way. The paper aims to detect structural breaks and compare differences before and after the change points. Design/methodology/approach – The structural breaks detection procedures in this paper can be applied to find out two different types of change points, i.e. in the middle and at the end of one time series. Then time series and regression models are used to compare differences of trade relationship before and after the detected change points. The methods can be employed in any economic series and work well in practice. Findings – The results indicate that structural breaks in 2002 and 2009 are caused by China’s accession to WTO and the financial crisis. Time series and regression models show that the development of China’s exports to Germany in agri-food products has different features in different sub-periods. Before 1999, there is no significant relationship between China’s exports to Germany and Germany’s imports from the world. Between 2002 and 2008 the former depends on the latter very strongly, and China’s exports to Germany developed quickly and stably. It decreased, however suddenly in 2009, caused by the great reduction of Germany’s imports from the world in that year. But China’s market share in Germany still had a small gain. Analysis of two categories in agri-food trade also leads to similar conclusions. Comparing the two events we see rather different patterns even if they both indicate structural breaks in the development of China’s agri-food exports to Germany. Originality/value – This paper partly originally proposes two statistical algorithms for detecting different kinds of structural breaks in the middle part and at the end of a short-time series, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to deploy an export dependency index to identify the sectors and countries in Latin America which are most exposed to fluctuations in Chinese demand. Bilateral trade between China and Latin America has grown very quickly in the past decade. As a consequence, economic relationships with Latin America intensified tremendously, as growing demand for resources drove China into relatively unexplored frontiers.Design/methodology/approach The Index measures the relative exposure of Latin American exporters to shifts in demand from China and is scaled from 0 to 1 (the higher the score, the more exposed an exporter is to disruptions of trade with China). The authors undertook the analysis using six-digit trade figures from the United Nations COMTRADE database (Harmonized System 2007 nomenclature) to ensure granularity and consistency and contrasted their results across two points in time, 2008 and 2014. The analysis was very comprehensive, covering the products that accounted for 80 per cent or more of all exports to China in 2014, for all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.Findings According to our estimates, dependency on China increased overboard across Latin America for all countries and all sectors between 2008 and 2014. Absolute dependency levels were highest in Costa Rica, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Brazil, Panama, Peru, Chile, Guyana and Argentina. Of these, the largest exporters to China, namely, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela, featured high dependencies concentrated around just four commodities: soy in the form of soybeans and soybean oil; crude oil; copper in the form of copper ore, copper cathodes and unrefined copper; and iron ore. These four commodities accounted for 80 per cent of the regions’ total exports to China.Originality/value This is one of few studies that look into Latin America’s commodity export dependency on China at such granular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The Marshall-Lerner (M-L) condition, which stipulates that a devaluation or depreciation of its currency will improve a country's trade balance only if the sum of the absolute values of a country's import and export price elasticities are greater than one, is a fundamental tenet of international economics. The purpose of this study is to survey the literature that has tested the M-L condition, examining in particular whether previous studies' results are statistically significant. The authors then conduct their own estimation of 29 countries' trade elasticities, over the past few decades. Design/methodology/approach – While mostly a review paper, the paper also applies statistical techniques in two ways. First, the authors use t-tests on previously-published statistical results to see if the sums of their elasticities are significantly greater than one. The authors also apply the recently developed ARDL cointegration method, which has a number of attractive statistical properties, to estimate 29 countries' long-run import and export elasticities and test the M-L condition using recent data. Findings – The authors re-estimation using previous studies' coefficients and standard errors shows that, although the point estimates in many studies suggest that the M-L condition is met, it really is not met in half of the cases. This lack of evidence is confirmed with the authors' own empirical tests. Research limitations/implications – Not only does this paper collect the relevant literature in a way that will assist future researchers on the topic, these findings suggest that support for the M-L condition is much weaker that commonly thought. This therefore makes an important contribution to thinking regarding the potential benefits of devaluation, and to economic theory in general. Practical implications – Policymakers who hope to improve their countries' competitive position could benefit from learning that this policy is indeed less effective than might be supposed. This could lead to the implementation of more effective economic policies. Originality/value – As a literature review, the originality of this paper is that it collects relevant studies into one single paper. The statistical analyses allow the reader to re-interpret these studies' findings in a new light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Bilateral trade between Egypt and China has expanded substantially in recent years. Few studies however have focused on the understanding of this trade relationship. The purpose of this paper is to fill a void in the literature by examining and understanding the two countries' trade pattern. Design/methodology/approach – In order to achieve the objectives of the paper, and in the light of the pool of literature and availability of data, the authors relied on qualitative methods to analyze the composition of trade between Egypt and China. In addition, the authors employed trade intensity index, intra-industry trade index, and examined the trade complementarity to capture the dynamics and perspectives of bilateral trade between the two countries. Findings – Results show low values in Egypt's trade intensity index, implying that Egyptian trade with China is less than it should be. The low values of the intra-industry trade index suggest smaller trade between the two countries' firms in the same industry. The study clearly shows that there are few areas where there is an overlap in the two countries' comparative advantage. The trade complementarity analysis tends to suggest that the complementarity for China to export to Egypt is increasing, while that for Egypt to export to China is declining. Originality/value – Given the lack of research that examines and compares trade between the two countries, the paper provides an in-depth understanding of the patterns of trade between them and the driving forces behind such dynamics, which is pertinent to best capture the opportunities presented by the Chinese market. Also, the findings can be used to draw policy implications for promoting future trade and cooperation between Egypt and China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes on Thailand’s trade balances.Design/methodology/approach The design methodology is based on the nonlinear ARDL approach of Shin et al. (2014).Findings The authors find strong support for the asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes on the Thailand trade balance with most partners, including the three largest partners, China, Japan and the USA.Research limitations/implications The long-run asymmetric effects revealed that while baht depreciation will hurt Thailand’s trade balance with China, it will improve its trade balance with the USA and has no effects with Japan.Practical implications The trade balance of different partners reacts differently to currency depreciation.Social implications A currency depreciation that improves the trade balance by promoting exports also helps to reduce the rate of unemployment.Originality/value No study has assessed the asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes on the Thailand’s trade balance with its major partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings – When the twentieth century began, most observers were under no illusions about the growing economic power of the US. They understood that it would eventually overshadow Britain and the other leading west European nations. There seems to be a similar inevitability about the growing power of China; the likelihood is that, well before the end of this century, it will have superseded the US as the world's strongest economy.Practical implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to combine the authors' findings of widespread bilateral trade-share persistence with some, recent empirical evidence of substantial and rapid volatility in the country source of most products in order to extend the implications of this literature in several ways. Design/methodology/approach - The paper focuses on the behavior of aggregate bilateral trade flows for a large number of countries over the period 1980-2000. Findings - The paper infers that countries are frequently switching to very different products in their export bundles to particular destinations. It also argues that the evidence of rapid product turnover in trade is not inconsistent with traditional factor endowment trade pattern predictions, as has been inferred in the literature. Finally it finds that sunk costs in international trade appear to be external to particular products going to particular destinations but internal to the sum total of bilateral trade. Originality/value - The novelty of this paper resides in documenting the remarkably constant bilateral trade shares of 93 countries over the past two decades and the combination of this result with other known trade pattern characteristics to arrive at important new conclusions. - [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose-This paper aims to critically examine China's exchange rate policy debate and discuss Chinese financial and capital control reform of recent years. Furthermore, using the empirical results based on a regional general equilibrium model, alternative methods are suggested of American concerns about China's role in contributing towards global financial stability and American trade deficits with China. Designlmethodology/approach-Regional general equilibrium input.output model. Findings-Sino-American debate on exchange rate policy is a matter of difference of opinion in sequencing of policies China has adopted to reduce capital account control and make her exchange rate regime more flexible. Using the final demand elasticity of exports it is observed that Chinese expansionary fiscal stimuli do have powerful effects in inducing additional exports for the United States and other Chinese trading partners. Research limitations/implications-The model does not include rest-of-the-world economies. Practical implications:-The results imply viable alternatives to renminbi/dollar appreciation policy in dealing with US-China persistent trade deficit. Originality/value-The paper suggests a new, empirical-based policy recommendation in dealing with the US trade deficit with China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of money-laundering in relation to international trade in Malaysia. It notes that several financial crimes have penetrated the market thus affecting the economic prosperity of countries. Conventional financial crimes come in the form of insider trading, falsification of financial reports, corporate looting and fraud. This crime already existed for years but the focus came about during the 9/11 attack on the U.S. wherein rumors that terrorists conduct an extensive money-laundering activities to support the cause of their movements. Disguising illegal money through the international trade system has been a popular approach among money launderers.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to test the export-led growth hypothesis for South Asia, a diverse region consisting of one large country, India, surrounded by a number of medium and small countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. Design/methodology/approach - To test this, the study employs cointegration and error-correction modelling, using data from the International Financial Statistics of the IMF. Findings - The study produces fairly mixed results, and does not find any conclusive evidence in favour of export-led growth. While India, Maldives and Nepal exhibit export-led growth, Bangladesh and Bhutan show the opposite result of growth-led exports. In Pakistan and Sri Lanka no causality in either direction was found. The mixed nature of the results is further confirmed by taking a common time period since 1980. Practical implications - South Asia is one of the poorest regions of the world; so success or otherwise of export-led growth is of great interest for policy purposes. For example, the finding of export-led growth for the largest economy of the region, India, is particularly heartening as, by opening up its markets further to the other countries of the region, it can fuel growth in the entire region. Originality/value - This study tries to fill an important gap in the literature as it is the first comprehensive study of the region as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bulk of research in international exchange has adopted an exporter perspective. In contrast, the work reported here incorporates the importer side of the dyad. The research used an extensive multiple case study design involving 36 exporter-importer dyads operating across four countries. The main search criteria used by importers are identified along with those areas where the perception and performance of exporters were most at variance with those being used by the importers. Field research also pointed to a marked age-related cyclical effect in dyad performance. In addition, the best performing dyads were those in which close relationships were maintained among the people on either side, an aspect that could have been more carefully managed by some of the exporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on a study that explores the characteristics of small and medium-sized initiating and continuing exporting firms. Many of the firms in Canada have already identified and successfully exploited markets overseas, especially in the U.S., by drawing on their ability to react quickly to market opportunities, cultivating "provided" niches which were not of interest to larger firms or by relying on unique technological innovations. Insights gained from studying the non-exporting firms are used in redefining the thrust of the many agencies that aim to stimulate exports by small/medium-sized firms. As the U.S. is the most popular initial export market for an overwhelming number of Canadian companies, the impact of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the U.S. is also discussed since it creates a framework for future trading relationships between the two countries. The Closer Economic Relations agreement between New Zealand and Australia, the ASEAN and the relationships between Japan and South Korea and China and Hong Kong are cited as examples of this phenomenon.