Productivity effects of trade in natural resources—comparison with mechanisms of technological specialisation

This paper compares two alternative growth paths, assessing the effects on productivity of specialisation in natural resources (NR) and technologically advanced products. The empirical analysis exploits product-level export data for 109 developing 51 developed economies over period 1996–2018. We document distinct types specialisation, based exports either or technological products, compare their role labour by GMM estimation a conditional convergence model. In general, resource weakly slow down but we find that type exported is important: Metals enhance catch-up can stimulate countries. Technological especially products typical Fourth Industrial Revolution, reinforces does not affect resources–productivity relationship.