Export Diversi cation in a Transitioning Economy : The Case of Syria

How does the process of export diversification play out in a transitioning economy, especially in light of government policy aimed at trade liberalization? This paper examines this question by considering a directed policy effort by Syria -- an economy transitioning from both economic centralization and resource dependence -- to liberalize its trade in 2001. In addition to documenting the patterns of diversification at the aggregate level since the implementation of the policy, we also examine factors that are related to diversification at the sectoral level. Our findings suggest that, while Syria has achieved reasonably rapid export diversification, this may to a large extent be the result of structural transformations in the economy, and that further consolidation of diversification gains may require continued policy reform along the lines of strengthening Syria's weak institutional and business environment.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Lim, Jamus Jerome, Saborowski, Christian
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	2011-09-01
Subjects:	ABSOLUTE TERMS, AGGREGATE LEVEL, AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, AGRICULTURE, ANNUAL GROWTH, ANNUAL GROWTH RATE, APPAREL, AVERAGE TARIFF, AVERAGE TARIFFS, BALANCE OF PAYMENTS, BARRIERS TO ENTRY, BENCHMARKS, BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, CAPITAL GOODS, CENTRALIZATION, COMMAND ECONOMY, COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE, COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES, COMPETITIVENESS, COMPETITIVENESS OF FIRMS, CROSS-COUNTRY LEVEL, CUSTOMS, DEPENDENT VARIABLE, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, DISAGGREGATED LEVEL, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE, ECONOMIC POLICIES, ECONOMIC POLICY, ECONOMIC REFORM, ECONOMIC REFORMS, ECONOMIC RESEARCH, ELIMINATION OF TARIFFS, EMPIRICAL LITERATURE, ESSENTIAL OILS, ESTIMATED COEFFICIENTS, EXCHANGE RATES, EXPLANATORY VARIABLES, EXPORT BASKET, EXPORT BASKETS, EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION, EXPORT GROWTH, EXPORT GUARANTEE FUND, EXPORT INTENSITY, EXPORT MARKET, EXPORT MARKETS, EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES, EXPORT PATTERNS, EXPORT PERFORMANCE, EXPORT PROCEEDS, EXPORT PRODUCTS, EXPORT PROMOTION, EXPORT PROMOTION AGENCY, EXPORT SECTORS, EXPORT SHARE, EXPORT SHARES, EXPORT STRUCTURE, EXPORTERS, EXPORTS, FATS, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT, FOREIGN TRADE, FREE TRADE, FREE TRADE AREA, FULL LIBERALIZATION, GDP, GDP PER CAPITA, GINI INDEX, GLOBAL LEVEL, GLOBAL TRADING, GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, GROWTH PERFORMANCE, GROWTH POTENTIAL, GROWTH RATE, IMPORT PRICE, IMPORTS, INDUSTRIAL POLICY, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, INDUSTRIALIZATION, INTERMEDIATE INPUTS, INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, MACROECONOMIC FACTORS, MEDIUM TERM, MONOPOLY, NATURAL ENDOWMENTS, NEGATIVE SIGN, NET EXPORTER, NET EXPORTER OF OIL, NON-TARIFF BARRIERS, NONTARIFF TRADE BARRIERS, OIL EXPORTERS, OIL PRICES, OIL REVENUES, OUTPUT PER CAPITA, PLANNED ECONOMY, POLICY IMPLICATIONS, POLICY INTERVENTION, POLICY MEASURES, POLICY RESEARCH, PRICE GUARANTEES, PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION OUTPUT, PRODUCTIVITY, PUBLIC POLICY, REDUCTION IN TARIFFS, REGIONAL TRADE, REGRESSION ANALYSIS, RELATIVE IMPORTANCE, SPECIALIZATION, STANDARD DEVIATION, STATE INTERVENTION, STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES, STRUCTURAL CHANGE, TARIFF BARRIERS, TARIFF CHANGES, TARIFF RATE, TARIFF REDUCTION, TARIFF SCHEDULE, TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY, TRADE BARRIERS, TRADE CENTER, TRADE FACILITATION, TRADE FLOWS, TRADE INDICATORS, TRADE LIBERALIZATION, TRADE OPENNESS, TRADE PERFORMANCE, TRADE POLICIES, TRADE POLICY, TRADE POLICY REFORMS, TRADE VOLUME, TRADE VOLUMES, TRANSITION ECONOMIES, TRANSITION ECONOMY, TRANSITION PROCESS, VALUE ADDED, WORLD TRADE,
Online Access:	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110927130130 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3574
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