Transformações produtivas no processo de industrialização tardia dos países asiáticos

Abstract

The debate on economic development highlights the trajectories of late industrialization and structural transformation as key drivers enabling nations to overcome historical conditions of productive and technological backwardness. In this context, the development experiences of Asian countries have become important references, as they demonstrate strategies capable of fostering industrial capabilities and reducing the income gap with advanced economies. This study aimed to analyze the effects of changes in the productive structure on the late industrialization process of Asian countries by measuring the Catching-up Index and applying Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), using data from the Penn World Table and the World Bank for the year 2023. The results indicate that most Asian economies are undergoing a process of relative convergence toward the U.S. technological frontier, with China and South Korea standing out as successful catching-up cases, while Pakistan and Sri Lanka exhibit falling-behind trajectories. The Exploratory Factor Analysis synthesized the indicators into two main dimensions: (i) Structural Change, which reflects countries' ability to absorb technological progress and undertake sophisticated productive investments; and (ii) Economic Development, indicating that higher stages of development are characterized by the transition toward a productive structure increasingly based on services and high-technology activities, thereby reducing the relative dependence on traditional manufacturing. These findings suggest that economies with higher levels of industrialization, stronger innovative capabilities, and higher per capita income tend to present more favorable conditions for the technological catching-up process.