Global production sharing, trade patterns and industrialization in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Global production sharing (GPS) � the dispersion of separate stages (tasks) of an integrated production process across national boundaries � has been a major factor in the economic dynamism of the Southeast Asian economies. Led by Singapore and Malaysia, the Southeast Asian economies have been major and successful participants in global production networks. �Network products� (parts and components, and final assembly traded within production networks) constitute almost two-thirds of the merchandise exports of Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, almost half those of Thailand, and a smaller but still significant share for Indonesia. From a small and recent base, they are growing quickly in Vietnam, while beginning in 2012 Cambodia has begun to participate in global production networks on a modest scale.