The dataset was utilised to examine the impact of export diversification on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 43 countries over a period of 19 years were taken into account. The research hypothesis for this study is: Export concentration constrains economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. The data for macroeconomic variables considered in the study were drawn from the World Development Indicators' database. Then data for measuring the extent of export diversification were drawn from the International Monetary Funds' Herfindahl-Hirschman Index database. Lastly, data to measure the quality of governance were drawn from the Worldwide Governance Indicators' database. The study measured the log of GDP per capita growth as the dependent variable- and export diversification and, governance index (index of the six components of governance), foreign direct investment, domestic investment as the main explanatory variables - whereas trade policy, trade openness were included as control variables. Furthermore, the study tested for a u-shaped pattern between export diversification and economic growth in the region and thus an additional variable was included InExDsq to achieve this objective. The results suggest that export diversification is still low in Sub-Saharan Africa and consequently impact negatively on economic growth in the region. This is evidenced by the negative coefficient of export diversification.

This indicator is a measure of the dispersion of trade value across an exporter’s products. A county with a preponderance of trade value concentrated in a very few products will have an index value close to 1. Thus, it is an indicator of the exporter’s vulnerability to trade shocks. Measured over time, a fall in the index may be an indication of diversification in the exporter’s trade profile. The user has the option of selecting product clusters, which will return the index with calculated only for that specified subset of products. Note that if a country exports only a single product, then the indicator returns no value. Note: This dataset uses mirrored data instead of country reported data.

This dataset provides information on export diversification of 166 countries from 1962 to 2010. Export diversification is expressed as the inverse of Herfindahl–Hirschman index (HHI) of export concentration. HHI is a measure of the degree of market concentration and as a measure of specialization, outperforms others (Palan, 2010).

This indicator is a measure of the dispersion of trade value across an exporter’s partners. A county with a preponderance of trade value concentrated in a very few markets will have an index value close to 1. Thus, it is an indicator of the exporter’s dependency on its trading partners and the danger it could face should its partners increase trade barriers. Measured over time, a fall in the index may be an indication of diversification in the exporter’s trading partnerships. The user has the option of selecting product clusters, which will return the index calculated only for that specified subset of countries. Note that if a country exports to only a single market, then the indicator returns no value. Note: This dataset uses mirrored data instead of country reported data.

Abstract

The Exporter Dynamics Database is the first database providing measures of exporter characteristics and dynamics across 70 countries across all geographic regions and income levels. The Exporter Dynamics Database contains close to 100 measures covering the basic characteristics of exporters, their distribution by size, the diversification in their products and markets, their dynamics in terms of entry, exit and survival, and the average unit prices of the goods they trade.

Geographic coverage

The database covers 70 countries across all geographic regions and income levels. It covers the following countries: Albania, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Guinea, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Rep, Laos, Lebanon, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Yemen, and Zambia.

Universe

All sectors except HS2 digit code 27. All ISIC revision 3, 3-digit manufacturing industries codes 151-369.

Kind of data

Administrative records (customs)