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This study researches the possibilities of improving export receipts through China and its expressed dedication to the region’s development. Using the gravity approach, the study revealed that the Caribbean has yet to exploit available export opportunities with China, thereby warranting a more aggressive and sustained export strategy. A large portion of the region’s exports into China offers significant expansion possibilities. Despite largely unexplored opportunities, the Caribbean is also confronted by various inherent and external challenges. With significant declines in export feasibility, the Caribbean needs to develop an aggressive export-led strategy for a united Caribbean into China. However, caution is warranted when advancing international trade policies. At present, the Caribbean is unable to engender long-standing trade relations to strengthen the dealings with a newer, though growing, partner.

This article investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic affected home and host countries’ FDI margins. Heckman estimation of monthly bilateral FDI data indicates the following: (1) The pandemic reduced...

This study assesses the export potential of East Asia for the Caribbean within the framework of a structural gravity model. Export potential of 30% is estimated to be available to the Carib...

Motivations behind a country&rsquo, s importation of waste are categorized into the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) and the resource hunting hypothesis (RHH). The importation of wastes can lead to environmental sustainability concerns, requiring governments to intervene when the market fails to reduce the negative externalities by strengthening and implementing environmental regulations. Motivated by China&rsquo, s position within a rapidly growing but environmentally damaging sector of trade, this paper has three goals: (1) to classify the primary hypothesis that governs China&rsquo, s flow of traded wastes, (2) to verify the heterogeneous impact of the pollution paradise motivation and resource demand motivation of waste imports from developed and developing countries, and across industries, (3) to assess the impact of domestic environmental regulations on the motives behind China&rsquo, s waste imports. Using 28 imported waste-varieties from 20 of China&rsquo, s major trade partners across 24 years, findings indicate that the flow of Chinese waste imports is relatively unresponsive under the pollution haven effect. However, the resource hunting effect from developing countries is significantly greater than what originates from developed countries, despite the laws of 2011 and 2017 established to restrict resource hunting activities. These results have important implications for improving the efficiency of China&rsquo, s waste sorting and recycling systems.

The business of international trade has never been identified as zero-sum. Yet, dependence on regional agreements to provide alternate means for countries to overlook shortcomings persists. China&rsquo, s recent rise up the trade value-chain has fostered an assumption that the regional agreement provides various advantages to exports from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries. This paper provides an empirical assessment of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) impact on ASEAN export efficiency into the Chinese market, in pre and post eras. Using a structured gravity approach to estimate potential export pattern at aggregate and industry level, this research indicates that though not consistent across years, the ACFTA offers improvements to ASEAN exports to China. No clear effects of the ACFTA can be extrapolated from the years surrounding the initial signing (Article 8&mdash, 2004). However, following its full enactment (2010), the ACFTA resulted in more sustainable trade from ASEAN members towards China, at both the industry and country levels. While seeing improvements in export efficiency during its era, ACFTA&rsquo, s facilitation of efficiency measures with China came at no expense to other major export destinations.

CARICOM countries have determined that the export of services is the platform for future development of their economies in light of the loss of preferences for their traditional agricultural exports. This paper aims to determine if services can indeed fulfill this objective for the region within the context of international export competitiveness. We addressed the following questions: Which services exports in CARICOM countries are globally competitive; what is the degree of diversification in services exports; and what is the extent of export similarity in services in CARICOM. On a whole, other than Travel Services, and to a much lesser extent, Insurance Services, very few services exports in CARICOM countries are globally competitive. Most notably, Financial Services in the region, a sector touted as one to which several CARICOM countries are looking for future economic growth and development, are not competitive. St. Lucia and Jamaica are the only countries to exhibit advantages in Computer and Information Services and Personal, Cultural, and Recreational Services respectively. Guyana is competitive in Communications Services and Royalties and License Fees and Suriname in Transportation Services, Government Services and Other Business Services. Further, there is little diversification in services exports. Compounding this problem, there is a high degree of services exports similarity. If countries in the region wish to stake their future on the performance of services, regional governments will need to put in place strategies to enhance the sector’s competitiveness.

Despite liberalization efforts, compelling evidence suggest that the region is waning in its efforts to create a sustainable development path. This research addressed key the question: Can CARICOM countries maintain positive economic growth rates in an era of increasing globalization under the same modus operandi — without meaningful improvements in their international competitiveness? Analysis of the region's state of affairs reveals concerns regarding the measurements and levels of competitiveness in trade, and a need for compelling swift action. Comprehensive policy reform which enhances regional competitiveness should be the primary role for governments as they embark onto an alternate sustainable development path.

In the drive towards economic globalization, companies are faced with both opportunities and challenges. As the global landscape changes, company and by extension countries increasingly grasp the level of importance innovation has to their survival and continued development. The element of innovation, within the business environment, has become the necessary condition for sustainable development of a country or nation. In the case of Germany, the authors acknowledge the country’s fascinating ability in innovation management; therefore have sought to gain a better understanding through a sampled analysis of German private enterprises. In the process, quantitative model and qualitative model were utilized together. On the one hand, a qualitative method is adopted to collect primary data. On the other hand, a quantitative process is used to collect secondary data. According to the data analysis of the sampled corporations and businesses, the indices of each factor vary across the different industries. Results also suggested that stronger enterprises give greater attention to innovation (factors) and therefore reap higher gains. In such companies, various rules and regulations are designed to stimulate the employees’ creativity; while communication is established across all parts of companies. Similarly, the company would be design on the basis of adapting different market strategies. Worthy of note is that companies in each industry treat technological innovation as an important element to their development. Such emphasis on the importance of innovation management is a vital factor that can aid in explaining why German enterprises have gained such success to date. Hence, companies in other world economies, including fast pace China should take note of the German companies and strengthen their own management structure regarding innovation.

The need for increased market access and greater trade revenues, compels small developing nations to intensify their efforts to boost competitiveness on a global scale. Using survey data and a modified Heckman’s two-step approach, an evaluation of factors regarding innovation in the CARICOM services sector and the impacts on policy is conducted. Results of the analysis suggest firm size, foreign ownership involvement, patent rights, availability of public funds for innovative activity and external trade are significant in explaining the general firm’s decision to innovate. However, for services firms, the decision to innovate depends mainly on patent protection and to a lesser extent foreign ownership involvement in the firm.

This paper analyses the competitiveness of eighteen small island developing states (SIDS) over the period 2000–2007 employing the technique of revealed comparative advantage. We find that most SIDS had at the very least a weak comparative advantage on average. Of particular note, the results indicate that competitiveness in most SIDS increased over the sample period. However, in spite of their improvements, none of the countries at any point in time displayed a strong comparative advantage. This would then call for a need for policy makers in SIDS to further upgrade their tourism products in order to improve competitiveness and sustain tourism.

The purpose of this study is to determine the causes of reduced competitiveness among French companies. Using a mixed methodology approach of qualitative and quantitative techniques, we surveyed 75 companies from different sectors.According to the analysis, the authors deduced that French SMEs’ competitiveness has been declining due to both “price factors” and “non-price factors”. The findings have also highlighted a lack of appropriate incentives offered to French SMEs to expand abroad, or to compete at a higher level – for those with a presence spanning borders.

A lack of growth remains a major concern for Caribbean countries. Private sector development has been identified as vital in addressing this problem. Innovation, a necessary condition for competitiveness, is a key channel through which the private sector can help to stimulate growth. An analysis of innovation at the firm level for Caribbean manufacturing and services sectors shows that patent rights, the level of domestic sales, collaboration for innovation purposes, innovation intensity (that is, the efficiency with which innovation funds are managed), availability of technology, knowledge about new market trends, domestic sales, and the size of the workforce are critical to the innovation process in both sectors. Several differences also exist. Innovative service firms are older, in contrast to manufacturing firms, which tend to be younger; foreign ownership is key for service firms; and both types of firms face different obstacles to innovation. Policymakers should tailor policies that take such differences into account.

This paper assesses Barbados' competitiveness within the EU market in light of its recent signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU in 2008. Using SITC data from 1992-2006, indices of revealed comparative advantage (RCA) were calculated. We found that Barbados possesses comparative advantages in Live Animals; Raw Sugars, Beet and Cane; and Spirits. However, policies such as the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), stringent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, onerous rules of origin and non-tariff barriers including technical barriers to trade, threaten to undermine these advantages. These developments strongly suggest that Barbados must move agriculture up the value chain and increase value-added, as well as integrate it more fully with other sectors of its economy. Greater attention must be focused on countries in the EU other than the UK, if full advantage is to be taken of the EPA, as the UK market is already mature. There is evidence that export opportunities to these countries exist in other commodity groups (Fuels, Lubricants, etc.; Animal, Vegetable Oils Fats, Wax; Chemicals, Related Products; Manufactured Goods). When these issues are placed within the context of Barbados' history of weak capacity to take advantage of the market access opportunities available from their trading arrangements, the overarching challenge for Barbados is one of effective market access. This will require, among other things, a capable export promotion agency. The export of non-traditional commodities should be promoted, and greater support, perhaps in the form of incentives, should be provided to large firms that are not yet exporters to encourage them to look beyond the domestic market.