North-South Economic Relations: The Main Issues

Transcription

1 September 29, 2009

2 North-South Economic Relations: The Main Issues The origins of inequality The role of international regimes in preserving or increasing that inequality The role of commodity and raw materials trade in preserving or increasing inequality Import substitution vs. export-led growth as strategies for industrial growth in the Third World

3 Consequences of Poverty Lack of access to food, shelter, and education Feelings of helplessness and insecurity Low self-esteem Garbage dump harvesting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

4 Gross National Income per Capita, Purchasing Power Parity Method, , in Dollars, in High-, Middle-, and Low-Income Countries Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2008, online data.

5 Hobson s Theory of Economic Imperialism Unequal Distribution of Income Capitalism Surplus production Overseas outlets imperialism war John Hobson

6 Lenin s Theory of Imperialism Unequal Distribution of Income Surplus capital Capitalism - Overseas outlets Revolution imperialism Vladimir I. Lenin war

7 Declining Terms of Trade Theory Developing countries (LDCs) depend upon exports of raw materials and agricultural commodities Prices of LDC exports decline over time relative to price of their imports (mostly manufactured goods) Until LDCs diversify their economies, they will remain poor Raul Prebisch

8 Terms of Trade Why do they decline? Prices of Exports Prices of Imports Competition among LDCs for export markets High population growth rates in LDCs Low bargaining power of LDC unions Oligopolistic markets for IC goods

9 Relative Prices of Primary Products, Sir Arthur Lewis

10 Policies Recommended by Raul Prebisch Industrialization through Import Substitution Regional Integration Increased South-South Trade and Investment Flows Population Control

11 Import Substitution High tariff barriers on imports of manufactured goods to encourage domestic manufacturing ( infant industries ) Tariff barriers are supposed to be reduced when domestic manufacturers become internationally competitive Regional integration (helps to deal with limits imposed by small internal markets)

12 Examples Dairy Farming in Jamaica Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana in Venezuela Posco (steel manufacturing) in Korea Bohemia (beer) in Mexico Early automobile industry in Japan 1936 Toyota Model AA Sedan

13 Why Import Substitution Bogs Down Inward FDI displaces domestic manufacturers Country develops trade deficit because exports are not competitive while both domestic and MNC firms import expensive inputs for assembly plants and light manufacturing Government often turns to subsidies and state enterprises to encourage deepening of manufacturing This is called the deepening of import substitution

14 Examples of Crises of Import Substitution Mexico India Brazil Korea Taiwan See chapters 4-7 of Episode 2 in The Commanding Heights documentary.

15 Export-Led Growth Initial period of import substitution Reduce tariffs on inputs for manufacturing Adopt new incentives for exports: export processing zones new trade-oriented infrastructure subsidies for exporting firms export performance requirements for MNCs

16 Examples Japan Korea Taiwan Hong Kong Singapore Chile China India

17 Per Capita Income in the Four Asian Tigers, Sources: World Development Indicators 2008; and (for Taiwan only) Taiwan Economic Statistics 6 (May 2008). The data for Taiwan are GNP per capita; for the others GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.

18 Per Capita Income in China and India, Source: World Development Indicators 2008.

19 Average Annual Growth of Nominal GDP, , in Percentages Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators 2008, online data.

20 The Millennium Development Goals Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development Source:

21 Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we focus on improving people s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, we seek to ensure that all people especially those with the fewest resources have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Source: