Analyzing the trade potential of SIDs with a focus on CARICOM’s small resource exporters

Abstract

For developing economies, exporting broadens the horizon for facilitating effective integration into the global economy and improving overall competitiveness. While small developing states are particularly at high risk given their fundamental characteristics, the expected impact of these exogenous shocks on small resource dependent economies are amplified given the high possibility of lower levels of diversification. This paper therefore assesses the determinants of exports and exporting potential of SIDS (small island developing states) with a focus on Caribbean resource-based countries. Using non resource exports, in an aggregate and disaggregate form, as the dependent variable, the traditional gravity model was augmented to include a revealed comparative advantage (RCA) index, the real effective exchange rate (REER) of the exporter and the export sophistication (EXPY) index. The main findings indicate that an appreciation of the REER has an inverse impact on exports of non-resource commodities and that trade according to comparative advantage and differences in export sophistication occurs mainly in the agricultural sector.