Analysis of international competitiveness of the Japanese wood industry
2010
Min, K., Tokyo Univ. (Japan)
This study analyzed the international competitiveness of the Japanese wood industry and its correlation with other economic variables. To track the change of international competitiveness, RCA, RSCA, Michaely index, TSI, and IIT were all calculated and illustrated. The trends of the indexes reveal that sawnwood and wood-based panels have lost their international competitiveness while paper and paperboard have maintained their position. Sawnwood and wood-based panels show inter-industry trade, while paper and paperboard show the intra-industry trade. The downturn in the international competitiveness of the sawnwood and wood-based panels industries in Japan is due to the inopportune response to the changing demands of consumers and material supply side. The paper industry has retained its competitive position with wastepaper recycling and new products launches, securing foreign wood resources. Correlation analysis indicates that the Michaely index of sawnwood is correlated with the wood price, product price and total factor productivity; and the RCA of paper and paperboard is correlated with the wage index and exchange rate. Keeping the wood industry sustainable requires consistent technological innovation.
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