Working Paper

Assessing Export Supply Constraints: Methodology, Data, Measurement

“This paper develops a research framework to assess the constraints to export supply in low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. It begins with a review of theory and evidence on export development in low- income countries in section 2. It then sets out a research agenda for assessing constraints to export development, ranging from national price competitiveness to microeconomic supply-side constraints and problems with institutional support for trade promotion and diversification, in section 3. Throughout the discussion particular attention is paid to research methods and to providing guidance on
questions of obtaining data and measurement of key variables.”