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Automotive international trade networks: A comparative analysis over the last two decades

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2018

SARA GORGONI ,
ALESSIA AMIGHINI  and
MATTHEW SMITH
SARA GORGONI
Affiliation:
Department of International Business and Economics, University of Greenwich, SE10 9LS London, UK (e-mail: s.gorgoni@greenwich.ac.uk)
ALESSIA AMIGHINI
Affiliation:
University of Eastern Piedmont, Via Perrone 18, 28100 Novara, Italy (e-mail: alessia.amighini@uniupo.it)
MATTHEW SMITH
Affiliation:
Department of International Business and Economics, University of Greenwich, SE10 9LS London, UK (e-mail: M.Smith@greenwich.ac.uk)
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Abstract

This paper explores the structural changes in the international organization of automotive production since the early 1990s. We apply descriptive network measures to international trade data for the period 1993–2013 for three automotive component groups with different technological intensity, with the aim of understanding (1) how the automotive international trade network has changed since the beginning of the 1990s; (2) whether regionalization has increased over time; (3) how the role that rising powers play within and between regions interacts with regionalization patterns. Our findings suggest that the structure of trade has changed significantly over the last two decades in all components. The network for electric and electrical parts and engines has evolved to become more hierarchical, with a cohesive core tied to hangers-on in the periphery, while the opposite has happened for rubber and metal. Regionalization patterns also show important differences across components. Finally, we have found an apparent association between the strengthening of regionalization patterns and the role played by traditional players and rising powers.

Keywords

automotive industryparts and components traderegionalizationmultipolarityBRICsrising powersnetwork analysiscore-peripheryE–I Indexbrokerage roles

JEL classification

F14: Empirical Studies of Trade F19: Other
Type
Research Article
Information
Network Science , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 2018 , pp. 571 - 606
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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