Regional specialization in international trade and production in Colombia

Abstract

This document reviews the specialization characteristics and trade flows for the Colombian industrial production, with the goal of recognizing key sectors in the commercial relations diversification at a regional level. To indicators where estimated using the GINI index, which shows the degree of specialization and industrial concentration. At the same time, the flows of manufactured products transported by land where analyzed and contrasted with the production specialization degree. It was found that industrial trade is related with the productive base, supported by several specialized subsectors within each branch. This fact is consistent with the product differentiation theory, which explains the formation of trade between highly specialized regions, even within homogeneous products.