International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

India's Manufacturing Exports: Technology Intensity Transition

Author Affiliations

  • 1 Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, INDIA
  • 2 Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Social Sci., Volume 4, Issue (5), Pages 67-75, May,14 (2015)

Abstract

This paper seeks to capture the shift in the technology intensity of India’s manufacturing exports in the post liberalized period. The study is based on the data extracted from UNCOMTRADE-WITS database (SITC REV-3). Further, OECD classification of manufacturing industries on technology intensity is taken into consideration. Using trade indicators (such as RCA), the analysis reveals a steady, albeit slow shift from low technology intensive exports to medium-low technology intensive exports in India. Though improvement was marked for the medium-high technology intensive exports, dominance of low technology intensive exports still persists. The major factors for the persistence of low technology intensive exports are low level of RandD in manufacturing sector, lack of skilled personnel, relatively low level of FDI and competitiveness. However, in case of high technology intensive manufacturing exports, India still lags behind. The study highlights incentivizing high technology intensive export as a concern for the policy makers.

References

  1. Samen S., A Primer on Export Diversification: Key Concepts, Theoretical Underpinnings and Empirical Evidence, Growth and Crisis Unit World Bank Institute (2010)
  2. Lall S., The Technological Structure and Performance of Developing Country Manufactured Exports, 1985-1998’, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford, Working Paper No. 44 (2000)
  3. Mani S., Exports of High Technology Products from Developing Countries: Is it Real or a Statistical Artifact’, Discussion Paper Series, Institute for New Technologies, The United Nations University (2000)
  4. Kumar R. and A.S. Gupta., Towards A Competitive Manufacturing Sector, Working Paper No. 203, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (2008)
  5. Srholec M., High-Tech Exports From Developing Countries: A Symptom of Technology Spurts or Statistical Illusion, TIK Working Papers on Innovation Studies, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture (TIK), University of Oslo (2005)
  6. Mayer J., A. Butkevicius A. Kadri and J. Pizarro., ‘Dynamic Products in World Exports’, Review of World Economics, 139(4), 762-795 (2003)
  7. Planning Commission, Government of India, (2012)
  8. Economic Survey 2011–12, Ministry of Finance, Government of India
  9. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard, (2007)
  10. Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, (2012)
  11. WITS COMTRADE Database, http://wits.worldbank.org/ wits/, (2012)
  12. World Development Indicators, World Bank, (2012)