The Spread of Manufacturing to the Periphery 1870-2007: Eight Stylized Facts

Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP9060

Authors: Agustín Bértola; Kevin H. O'Rourke; Jeffrey G. Williamson

Abstract: This paper documents industrial output growth around the poor periphery (Latin America, the European periphery, the Middle East and North Africa, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa) between 1870 and 2007. We find that although the roots of rapid peripheral industrialization stretch into the late 19th century, the high point of peripheral industrialization was the 1950-1973 period, which saw widespread import-substituting industrialization. This period was also the high point of unconditional industrial catching up, defined as the tendency of less industrialized countries to post higher per capita manufacturing growth rates, and which occurred between 1920 and 1990.

Keywords: history; third world; industrialization

JEL Codes: F1; N7; O2


Causal Claims Network Graph

Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.


Causal Claims

CauseEffect
early globalization (F60)industrial growth in developing regions (O25)
period from 1950 to 1973 (E64)surge in manufacturing output (L69)
lower initial industrial output levels (L69)higher growth rates (O49)

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