An investigation into the technological complexity of exports from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, South Africa and Viet Nam

r4d Working Paper 2016/12 by Sebastian Klotz

ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the question as to whether, and if so to what extent, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Madagascar, South Africa and Viet Nam have upgraded their exports in terms of technological complexity over the past 15 years. The analysis exploits three product classifications to illustrate the importance of technologically complex products in total exports and complements the findings with a quantitative methodology that computes export complexity at the aggregate country as well as disaggregated product level. Further insights are provided through the employment of a shift-share analysis approach which allows identifying the product groups that drive export growth and upgrading.