• Korea Trade Review
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.1-27
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• 2017

The purpose of this paper is to examine how industry-level R&D investments increase exports in Korean manufacturing industries through the strengthening of product competitiveness and cost competitiveness. We developed a research model indicating that R&D investments positively affect product competitiveness and cost competitiveness, in which investments in R&D will finally lead to increases in exports in manufacturing industries. Product competitiveness is divided into new product innovation capability and product quality competitiveness, while cost competitive advantage is divided into labor productivity and capital productivity. We have collected data from 20 manufacturing industries between 2004 and 2014, and analyzed them through path analysis. Empirical results of this study are as follows. First, R&D investment in the manufacturing industry positively affects new product innovation capability, product quality competitiveness, labor productivity and capital productivity of the industries. Second, increased product quality competitiveness, labor productivity and capital productivity positively affects exports of Korean manufacturing industries. Thus, we can conclude that R&D investments in Korean manufacturing industries positively influence exports through increases in product quality competitiveness, labor productivity and capital productivity.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

This paper studies whether export diversification mitigated the negative effect of the global financial crisis on exports using the Korean case. Specifically, we use annual data on the exports of 24 Korean manufacturing industries from 2000 to 2016 and examine whether the negative effect of the crisis on exports was less prevalent in industries that were more diversified in terms of country and product. We also examine whether export competitiveness, as measured by the revealed comparative advantage index by industry, had a mitigating effect on trade during the crisis. In order to study these issues, we use panel regression with a fixed-effect model for 24 Korean manufacturing industries. From our empirical analysis, we find that country diversification weakened the negative impact of the global financial crisis on Korea's exports, whereas neither product diversification nor export competitiveness did so.

• The Southeast Asian review
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.65-100
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• 2010

One of main findings of the competitiveness relation is rapid increase of Chinese influence on the southeast Asian market. While Japanese market share is decreasing, Chinese market share is continuously increasing in the market. It is the same regardless of types of production phases. Analysis based on gravity model shows that in general Chinese exports is crowding out Korean and Japanese export to the market. The magnitude of the effects on Korean exports is larger than on Japanese exports. Also, It is found that the directions of the effect of Chinese exports on Korean and Japanese exports are different by production phrases. For all processed goods, increase of Chinese exports decreases both Korean and Japanese exports to the market. However, for some final goods such as transport equipment and food & beverages for household, Chinese exports is increasing Korean and Japanese exports to the market.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2023

Purpose: This study purposes to analyze the determinants of the volume of Indonesian tuna exports. Research design, data and methodology: The framework was developed from the gravity model for trade, which was expanded with additional variables of competitiveness, exchange rate, and industrial share of the destination country. The data sources used in this study are UN Comtrade and the World Bank. The data used is yearly data from 12 countries in 2001-2019. The scope of the study is limited to exports to the twelve main export destinations. Panel data regression analysis is used to determine the factors that affect the volume of Indonesian tuna exports. Results: The results show that according to the theory, Indonesia's GDP has a positive effect and economic distance has a negative effect on the volume of the exports. Meanwhile, the GDPs of the destination countries are not proven to have a positive effect. However, the higher the industrial share in the country, the higher the export volume tends to be. Conclusions: The conclusion obtained from this study is that Indonesia's GDP, economic distance, real exchange rate, industrial GDP share of the destination country, and the RCA index affect the volume of Indonesian tuna exports.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.5-11
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• 2013

Purpose - The aim of this work is to study the reorientation that the export industrial sectors in Costa Rica have experienced during the last 20 years. Research design, data, methodology - The study employs the Cluster Analysis with the export data (20 years of cut-off period) from Costa Rica to the U.S-market. To make the predictions, the technique of the time series was used, with official data (from 2001 to 2010) from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission. Results - The Cluster Analysis, show how the economic sectors of traditional products exports of Costa Rica have progressively become in exporters of non-traditional products, meanwhile,the time series confirms that this trend will continue, at least during the next five years. Conclusions - The industry of traditional products exports of Costa Rica (dressmaking, vegetables, coffee, mate, species, etc.) will progressively become in exporters of non- traditional products with a high-tech component (i.e., mechanical equipment and devices, electronic devices and medical equipment),as a consequence of the Chinese (Costa Rica's main competitor) economy's presence in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE). This fact has enabled the potential improvement of Costa Rica's international competitiveness in the U.S. market.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.281-305
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to empirically analyze the status and the trends in the international competitiveness of Korean export products against MINTs. For the study, the data were collected from the trade statistics for the period 2009-2012 produced by KITA and UN comtrade, and trade specialization index and market comparative advantage index were selected as index analysis methods. The findings from this study are as follows: First, Korea maintains a continuous increase of trade volume and trade balance in trade with MINTs, and exports finished goods, auto parts, etc. to MINTs, whlie mainly imports primary products such as energy fuels from MINTs. Second, Korea remains competitive in both product groups and individual products over MINTs. Third, even though Korean exports obtain a high competitiveness against MINTs, its competitiveness shows the differences by country. Several implications of this study are as follows: First, we need to take full advantage of energy resource-rich MINTs in securing stable energy fuels. Second, we should prepare response plans for the economic conditions which can have a negative impact on trade with MINTs, Third, we need to build strategies for maintaining the competitiveness of Korean exports over MINTs. Fourth, The differentiated export strategies should be established by country by considering differences in Korean exports' competitiveness which exist among the four countries of MINTs. Fifth, we need to prepare for such a situation which MINTs attempt to expand its influence by forming a collective economic cooperation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.462-473
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• 2008

In recent years, Korea's apparel exports to the USA have faced a great threat, as the trade environment around the world has changed continually. The purpose of this study is to analyze the competitive position of Korean apparel exports to the USA, and to enhance export competitiveness by applying to offshore sourcing. The trade data of the Office of Textiles and Apparel(OTEXA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce were selected for inquiry about export competitiveness of apparel products made in Korea. In addition, we targeted members of the Korea Apparel Industry Association among the 500 exporters of clothing items in "The Import and Export Textile Product 2003." A total 70 sheets were analyzed. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Korean apparel exports to USA have decreased by 20-35 percent per year since 2005 under the Free Trade Area, showing that Korean apparel industries have not adapted to the new trade environment. Although Korean apparel exports to USA have indicated a trade surplus from now on, Korean apparel industries should find new ways to overcome this situation, diminishing exports and increasing imports. 2) Korean apparel companies selected more offshore sourcing than domestic sourcing. Also, as Korean apparel companies manufactured apparel products offshore, foreign subcontracting outranked manufacturing in their own foreign plants. When they chose foreign countries to source, they turned mainly to China and Vietnam. Also, they considered the target country's manufacturing price, labor stability, apparel products, quality, lead time, and so on. In order to increase apparel exports, Korean apparel industries should focus more on developing competitively new apparel products, improving the ability of sourcing management, and establishing on-the-spot agencies.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.145-155
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• 2021

This study examines the export competitiveness of four major natural rubber exporters in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) region and investigates the factors affecting bilateral natural rubber export. This study utilized the revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA) to measure export competitiveness. Next, this study employed the gravity model using the Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimation to analyze the factors affecting bilateral export from the four major natural rubber exporters to 46 countries in the region. The analysis is conducted by using annual data from 2001 till 2018. The findings showed that all four major exporters maintained their export competitiveness. Indonesia and Vietnam notably exhibited increasing trends in the early 2000s. Besides, the market share for Malaysia and Vietnam have increased from 2013 to 2015 with the BRI implementation in 2013. In addition, this study discovered that non-tariff measures (NTM) have a positive and significant impact on the bilateral export of natural rubber. The overall findings strongly indicate that the natural rubber export has increased post BRI announcement. The outcome highlighted the benefits of BRI implementation on the natural rubber export. This study is the first attempt to apply the gravity model on the natural rubber exports within the BRI region.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-55
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• 2018

Exports play an important role in Korea's economy and industry. Korea's share in world trade is also increasing. Governments and trade organizations are making great efforts to promote exports. However, since SMEs lack resources of enterprises, SMEs have a lot of difficulties in increasing exports compared to large enterprises. For this reason, in this study, we analyzed the difference of perception of export difficulties according to characteristics of small and medium export companies. As a result, four factors such as overseas market information, price and cost, competitiveness and regulation of importing country were derived. In addition, we investigated the differences in recognition of export difficulties by the stage of growth of company, period of export, products exported, export department, size of company. There was a significant difference in recognition. Especially, The companies which are the early stages of growth, short export period, finished product, the smaller the size of exports companies are more difficult in export difficulties.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2007

Clothing exports of Korea has grown rapidly till the latter half of the 1980's, contributing Korean economic development. However from the 1990's, the amount, the world market share and the international competitiveness of clothing exports have declined. Based on these phenomena, the purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of export articles in Korean Clothing Trade focused on the 1990's. Statistical data of clothing articles(SITC 84 : Articles of apparel & clothing accessories) were used. The relative importance, trade orientation tendency and unit price of each export clothing articles were analyzed. The results of the study were as follows. On the relative importance, trade orientation tendency and unit price of each export clothing articles, outer garments or products that required complicated production process(e.g., coats, suits, ensembles, jackets, dress) had been decreased in the portion and weakened in the export orientation tendency. But one item in a set or casual wear like trousers, skirts, blouses, shirts, Jerseys, pullovers, T-shirts has been increased in the portion and risen in the unit price. These trends means that clothing exports of Korea were more focused on those category and the international competitiveness on those articles were advanced. From these results, this study can be contributed to establish the concrete clothing export articles strategies of Korean firms.