The Role of Dynamic Products in Global Integration Implications for South Africa

The current phase of globalisation, from the mid-1980s to the present, has been characterised by farreaching changes in the global trading system. There have been differential economic gains from participation in the global economy, particularly a) between developed and developing countries and b) amongst developing countries. Much has depended on the manner in which countries have been able to make themselves part of the global economy.
Global integration can be viewed from a range of perspectives. This paper interrogates differential country outcomes from a similar perspective as that which a firm might use to locate its activities in a particular market, namely the type of business it is engaged in. We briefly examine what 'businesses' the South African (SA) economy is involved with in the global economy. Specifically, we examine SA's relative presence in the highest growth products in world trade: the top 40 dynamic products.