Export competitiveness of ASEAN economies - as per dynamic shift-share analysis

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This report compares changes in the competitive positions of five major members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. Specifically, their exports to the markets of the European Union, North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, as well as the region of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Asia and Pacific (Australia, Japan, Korea and New Zealand) are compared for the period between 1994 and 1999. Dynamic Shift-Share Analysis is applied to trade data for five major categories of manufactured exports. The subsequent results were analysed in order to find interdependencies with policy changes, as well as to find potential implications for international businesses. It was found that the "new" ASEAN members play a little role within the ASEAN-10. It appeared that Singapore has the strongest economy and is the only country in an 'innovation driven' development stage, followed by Malaysia, which was able to strengthen its position. Thailand mostly lost competitiveness. Indonesia, although mostly stable from a trade perspective lost mostly in value-added categories, while the Filipino economy was able to improve its competitive position.