Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis

This paper examines the role played by country-specific factors in the determination of export product diversification process. To meet this objective, the paper begins by constructing a time series data for export diversification using the Herfindahl index. Then, it applies the fully modified OLS...

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Main Authors: SHABANA NOUREEN, ZAFAR MAHMOOD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National University of Sciences and Technology 2021-01-01
Series:NUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Subjects:
Online Access:https://njssh.nust.edu.pk/index.php/njssh/article/view/10
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author SHABANA NOUREEN
ZAFAR MAHMOOD
author_facet SHABANA NOUREEN
ZAFAR MAHMOOD
author_sort SHABANA NOUREEN
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines the role played by country-specific factors in the determination of export product diversification process. To meet this objective, the paper begins by constructing a time series data for export diversification using the Herfindahl index. Then, it applies the fully modified OLS co-integration model to a panel of selected ASEAN and SAARC countries to find out the main determinants of export product diversification. Export diversification pattern shows that since the mid-1980s the ASEAN countries have continuously witnessed export diversification and the SAARC countries embarked on export diversification journey since the early 1990s. Analysis of the determinants suggests that foreign direct investment, domestic investment, competitiveness, real depreciation of domestic currency, financial sector development and institutional strength are significantly and positively related to export product diversification in both regions. These findings have important policy implications for the two regions. They call upon the policymakers for further diversification of exports, especially in the areas of their specialization that are vital for their smooth and sustained foreign exchange earnings as well as economic development. The study also recommends improving international competitive strength via improving business environment to achieve the goal of export product diversification.
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spelling doaj-art-307c1dfee9614b189e8134483da3f06f2025-08-20T03:20:39ZengNational University of Sciences and TechnologyNUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities2520-503X2523-00262021-01-0121Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical AnalysisSHABANA NOUREENZAFAR MAHMOOD This paper examines the role played by country-specific factors in the determination of export product diversification process. To meet this objective, the paper begins by constructing a time series data for export diversification using the Herfindahl index. Then, it applies the fully modified OLS co-integration model to a panel of selected ASEAN and SAARC countries to find out the main determinants of export product diversification. Export diversification pattern shows that since the mid-1980s the ASEAN countries have continuously witnessed export diversification and the SAARC countries embarked on export diversification journey since the early 1990s. Analysis of the determinants suggests that foreign direct investment, domestic investment, competitiveness, real depreciation of domestic currency, financial sector development and institutional strength are significantly and positively related to export product diversification in both regions. These findings have important policy implications for the two regions. They call upon the policymakers for further diversification of exports, especially in the areas of their specialization that are vital for their smooth and sustained foreign exchange earnings as well as economic development. The study also recommends improving international competitive strength via improving business environment to achieve the goal of export product diversification. https://njssh.nust.edu.pk/index.php/njssh/article/view/10Export Product DiversificationEconomic DevelopmentASEANSAARC Regions
spellingShingle SHABANA NOUREEN
ZAFAR MAHMOOD
Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis
NUST Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Export Product Diversification
Economic Development
ASEAN
SAARC Regions
title Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis
title_full Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis
title_fullStr Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis
title_short Explaining Trends and Factors Affecting Export Diversification in ASEAN and SAARC Regions: An Empirical Analysis
title_sort explaining trends and factors affecting export diversification in asean and saarc regions an empirical analysis
topic Export Product Diversification
Economic Development
ASEAN
SAARC Regions
url https://njssh.nust.edu.pk/index.php/njssh/article/view/10
work_keys_str_mv AT shabananoureen explainingtrendsandfactorsaffectingexportdiversificationinaseanandsaarcregionsanempiricalanalysis
AT zafarmahmood explainingtrendsandfactorsaffectingexportdiversificationinaseanandsaarcregionsanempiricalanalysis