摘要：This paper investigates the impact of some key variables on Mexican manufacturing competitiveness in the US market. To that end, we construct an international competitiveness ( IC ) index for the manufacturing sector. The responsiveness of such an index to an ample set of variables is evaluated through the use of a stationary VAR model. The short-term empirical evidence indicates that: 1) real currency depreciation weakens, rather than strengthens, IC; 2) labor productivity has a strong positive effect on IC, and 3) a real interest rate increase reduces IC. These findings reflect three fundamental problems of the Mexican manufacturing sector and thus have important economic policy implications.
其他摘要：This paper investigates the impact of some key variables on Mexican manufacturing competitiveness in the US market. To that end, we construct an international competitiveness ( IC ) index for the manufacturing sector. The responsiveness of such an index to an ample set of variables is evaluated through the use of a stationary VAR model. The short-term empirical evidence indicates that: 1) real currency depreciation weakens, rather than strengthens, IC; 2) labor productivity has a strong positive effect on IC, and 3) a real interest rate increase reduces IC. These findings reflect three fundamental problems of the Mexican manufacturing sector and thus have important economic policy implications.
关键词：Manufacturing industry; international competitiveness; Mexico; Latin America. Industria manufacturera; competitividad internacional; México; América Latina.
其他关键词：Manufacturing industry; international competitiveness; Mexico; Latin America.
