International trade in goods by technological intensity: the brazilian case, 1996–2010

Abstract

We show that from 1996 to 2010, Brazil had negative trade balances in its high-tech goods industries (i.e., Brazil was a debtor with regard to goods that feature high levels of technological intensity). On the other hand, the country presented positive trade balances in low-tech goods. Thus, although the country has increased its economic openness, Brazil’s exportation of industrial goods that feature high levels of technological content has been scarce and fragile. Moreover, Brazil relies on a remarkable specialization in exports of low and medium–low-tech goods. In international markets, both importing technological goods and developing domestic technological capabilities are fundamental to the creation of dynamic competitive advantages; through the use of exploratory data, we show that Brazil is lagging behind, since it has maintained certain export dynamics in terms of commodities; however, it has moved backward in terms of being an exporter of manufactured goods—especially of high-tech ones