Experiencias de Desarrollo divergentes: Una perspectiva general de las tendencias de Desarrollo de China y América Latina
| Autor | Jael Cortes Rondoy |
| Cargo | SOAS University of London |
| Páginas | 27-76 |
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ABSTRACT
Following a denition of development that brings back
the role of productive capabilities and endorses structural
change, this paper examines two key elements and their
trends: industrialization and trade patterns. Through the
analysis of economic factors covering the period 1980-2019,
this paper aims to offer insights into the elements that have
led to divergent development outcomes in China and Latin
America, paying particular attention to the cases of Chile
and Mexico. Indicators including yearly GDP growth, the
share of the world GDP, and per-capita GDP will be used
to show that China has outpaced Latin America in terms of
growth. Moreover, it will also be demonstrated that while
Latin America is experiencing a deindustrialization trend,
evidenced by a decline in the manufacturing sector and low
levels of high-technology exports, China has experienced
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Divergent development experiences: a general outlook
of China and Latin America’s development trends*
Jael Cortés Rondoy**
* This article is a revised and expanded version of one chapter of the thesis en-
titled. “China’s development strategy: Learnings for Latin America’s industrial
policies” (working title). Recibido: 8 de Agosto de 2022; Aceptado: 19 de oc-
tubre de 2022.
** PhD Candidate in Development Economics, Department of Economics, School
of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Email: jr67@
soas.ac.uk. ORCID: 0000-0003-2934-4512.
Experiencias de desarrollo divergentes: una perspectiva general de las
tendencias de desarrollo de China y América Latina
Latin American Journal of Trade Policy 14 (2022) - ISSN 079-9668 - Universidad de Chile
28
rapid industrialization. Moreover, China’s exports serve as an
illustration of a country that transitioned from producing and
exporting low-value manufactured items to more complex
goods with higher added value, while Chile has not been
able to leave behind its reliance on natural resources. In the
case of Mexico, although its exports are not concentrated in
primary commodities, they are built on a maquiladora model
that relegates it to the bottom of industrial value chains.
Keywords: China – Latin America – Development – Indus-
trialization – Trade Patterns – Structuralism.
RESUMEN
Adhiriéndose a una denición de desarrollo que recupera el
papel de las capacidades productivas y que respalda el cambio
estructural, este artículo examina dos elementos clave y sus
tendencias: industrialización y patrones comerciales. A través
del análisis de factores económicos durante el período 1980-
2019, el objetivo es presentar ideas sobre los elementos que
han generado resultados de desarrollo divergentes en China
y América Latina, prestando especial atención a los casos de
Chile y México. Utilizando el crecimiento anual del PIB, la
participación en el PIB mundial y el PIB per cápita se demos-
trará que China ha superado a América Latina en términos
de crecimiento. También se demostrará que mientras América
Latina está experimentando una tendencia a la desindustriali-
zación, evidenciada por una caída en el sector manufacturero
y bajos niveles de exportaciones de alta tecnología, China
ha experimentado una rápida industrialización. Además,
las exportaciones de China sirven como ejemplo de un país
que pasó de producir y exportar artículos manufacturados
de bajo valor añadido a bienes más complejos, mientras que
Chile no ha podido dejar atrás su dependencia de los recursos
Latin American Journal of Trade Policy 14 (2022) - Universidad de Chile
29
Jael Cortés Rondoy
Divergent development experiences: a general outlook of China and Latin America’s development trends
naturales. En el caso de México, si bien sus exportaciones no
se concentran en productos primarios, se construyen sobre
un modelo basado en las maquiladoras que relega al país a
las posiciones más bajas de las cadenas de valor industriales.
Palabras clave: China – América Latina – Desarrollo – In-
dustrialización – Patrones Comerciales – Estructuralismo.
INTRODUCTION
This paper will analyze general economic factors to shed
light on the elements that might engender different development
outcomes in China and Latin America. The period of study
encompasses the four decades from 1980 to 2019. The aim is
to understand why China and Latin America have evidenced a
dissimilar evolution. Both cases have shown contrasting outco-
mes, not just pertaining to economic and social indicators such
as GDP growth, poverty reduction, or inequality, but also in
relation to the increment of productive capabilities.
For the purpose of this article, it is relevant to undersco-
re the denition of economic development adopted by the
developmentalist tradition. From this outlook, economic
development only occurs when the productive organization
of the economy undergoes a fundamental structural change,
as well as the underpinning capabilities that enable such
productive transformation (Chang, 2017). Even though there
are multiple possible explanations to address contrasting
development trajectories, this investigation will focus on two
elements frequently highlighted by the literature and their
trends: industrialization and trade patterns.
As Hausmann, Hwang, and Rodrik (2007) examined,
what countries produce and export matters. Latin America’s
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