Changes in the Revealed Comparative Advantage of South Korea and Her Major ASEAN Trading Countries

Seung Jin Kim ; GiSeung Kim

Professor and Senior Research Fellow, Department of East Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tel: ＋60-12-343-1123, Fax: ＋60-3-7967-5675 seunjkim@um.edu.my
Member of the East Asian Economic Association
Corresponding author, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Pusan National University, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil2, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-735, Korea, Tel: ＋82-51-510-2564, Fax: ＋82-51-581-3140 gsk@pusan.ac.kr

JEL Classification: F11, F13, F14

Abstract

This study of revealed comparative advantage of South Korea and her major ASEAN trading countries in the manufacturing sector for the period of 2000-2010 found that South Korea exported products which are less skilled human capital intensive and more R&D intensive for most of the period. Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam are found to have exported products which are less physical (and skilled human) capital intensive and less R&D intensive for the entire period. It was found that Malaysia and Philippines exported products which are less physical (and skilled human) capital intensive. Singapore is found to have exported products which are more R&D intensive for the entire period.

Keywords:

Revealed Comparative Advantage, Physical Capital Intensity, Skilled Human Capital Intensity, R&D Intensity, Export Specialization Index

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