CEPAL Review no. 114

Revista CEPAL no. 114

Technological capacity-building in unstable settings: Manufacturing firms in Argentina and Brazil

From the 1970s onward, the macroeconomic context in Argentina and Brazil was characterized by drastic economic changes and instability. Numerous studies have documented the generally negative effect of this environment on the innovation capacities of the manufacturing sector. This paper, however, analyses the possible emergence of new innovation capacities in the period, bringing two important phenomena to light. First, a quite substantial number of firms, even in unstable settings, redoubled their innovation efforts. Second, these firms are mainly found in a small group of sectors associated …

Construyendo capacidades tecnológicas en escenarios inestables: empresas manufactureras argentinas y brasileñas

Desde la década de 1970, el contexto macroeconómico en la Argentina y el Brasil se caracterizó por cambios económicos drásticos e inestabilidad. En numerosos estudios se ha documentado el efecto generalmente negativo de ese entorno en las capacidades de innovación del sector manufacturero. En este trabajo, en cambio, se analiza el posible surgimiento de nuevas capacidades de innovación en dicho período, revelándose dos fenómenos importantes. Primero, un número no menor de empresas, incluso en entornos inestables, redoblaron sus esfuerzos innovadores. Segundo, estas empresas se concentran en un…

Global integration, disarticulation and competitiveness in Mexico’s electromechanical sector: A structural analysis

This article analyses the dual functioning of the Mexican electromechanical sector between 1994 and 2008, as distinct from other globalized activities. An estimation of labour productivity in 52 industrial classes finds that structural heterogeneity increased particularly in the 1994-2001 subperiod, alongside technical and organizational improvements that were increasingly concentrated in a small number of subsidiary companies of transnational automotive-assembly enterprises. The application of a shift-share technique also revealed the absence of any significant structural change. Lastly, an e…

Global integration, disarticulation and competitiveness in Mexico’s electromechanical sector: A structural analysis

En este artículo se analiza el funcionamiento dual del sector electromecánico mexicano en el período 1994-2008, diferenciando del resto las actividades globalizadas. Al estimar la productividad laboral de 52 clases industriales, se halla un crecimiento de la heterogeneidad estructural sobre todo en el lapso 1994-2001, concomitante de la progresiva concentración de las mejoras técnicas y organizativas en un número reducido de empresas filiales de transnacionales del ensamblaje automotriz. Otro resultado obtenido mediante la utilización de una técnica diferencial-estructural es la ausencia de un…

El ciclo económico del Uruguay, 1998-2012

Este documento analiza las características del último ciclo de desarrollo de la economía uruguaya (1998-2012) y los cambios en la estructura productiva y de las exportaciones. El análisis desarrollado en cada capítulo se complementa con una descripción de las políticas productivas implementadas a lo largo del período de estudio, tanto a nivel sectorial, como horizontal en tres dimensiones: inversión, exportaciones e innovación.…

Uruguay's Agricultural Sector, An Example of Structural Change

According to a recent publication by ECLAC, even though Uruguay's economy heavily depends on exports derived from natural resource-intensive activities (70%), changes introduced in the agricultural sector have improved the country's international competitiveness and its social indicators. This progress indicates, according to the organization, that Uruguay is creating the conditions to achieve a more inclusive social development. In the report Changes in Uruguay's Agricultural and Agro-industrial Dynamics and Public Policies (Spanish only), published by ECLAC's office in Montevideo, …

Sector agropecuario de Uruguay, un ejemplo de cambio estructural

Según una reciente publicación de la CEPAL, si bien la economía uruguaya depende fuertemente de las exportaciones basadas en actividades intensivas en recursos naturales (70 %), los cambios introducidos en el sector agropecuario han mejorado la competitividad internacional y los indicadores sociales del país. Estos avances indican, según el organismo, que Uruguay está generando condiciones para lograr un desarrollo social más inclusivo. En el estudio Cambios en la dinámica agropecuaria y agroindustrial del Uruguay y las políticas públicas, publicado por la oficina de la CEPAL en Montevide…

Setor agropecuário do Uruguai, um exemplo de mudança estrutural

Segundo uma recente publicação da CEPAL, embora a economia uruguaia dependa fortemente das exportações baseadas em atividades intensivas em recursos naturais (70%), as mudanças introduzidas no setor agropecuário melhoraram a competitividade internacional e os indicadores sociais do país. segundo o organismo, esses avanços indicam que o Uruguai está gerando condições para obter um desenvolvimento social mais inclusivo. No estudo Cambios en la dinámica agropecuaria y agroindustrial del Uruguay y las políticas públicas (em espanhol), publicado pelo escritório da CEPAL em Montevidéu, os …

Latin America’s emergence in global services A new driver of structural change in the region?

Business services have been one of the fatest growing export areas in emerging economies over the past decade. The spread of information and communication technologies and the rise in trade liberalization have facilitated the global unbundling and offshoring of services activities from advanced to developing countries, including those in Latin America. This offshoring has gradually evolved into more sophisticated forms of business process outsourcing. Several countries in the region are now in the process of further upgrading their services exports to participate in knowledge process outsourci…

Global value chains and world trade: Prospects and challenges for Latin America

Scant empirical evidence is available on how the Latin American and Caribbean region participates in global value chains (GVCs) and what drives this process. Frequent questions in this connection are: How has the spread of information and communications technologies and free trade agreements facilitated the region’s participation in GVCs? To what extent do small firms participate in GVCs? What learning mechanisms and production and technological feedbacks operate in different types of GVCs? How can countries and firms take advantage of upgrading processes in GVCs? What role do policies play to…