Export instability and development: a review of some recent findings

Abstract

Over the last two decades increasing attention has been placed on the occurrence and consequences of export instability. Thus far, however, research on this subject has produced diverse results. Disagreement has ranged from the choice of appropriate index, the relative incidence of export instability between advanced and developing countries, the causes of instability and finally its general economic effect. The present work summarises and takes stock of the views of professional economists to see, for example, whether proposals fro commodity price stabilisation agreements can be justified on pure economic criteria.

JEL: F49, O11, O19