Reassessment of the International Competitiveness in Global Value Chains: The Case of the Japanese Automotive Industry

Abstract

The international competitiveness of global trade has been analyzed in numerous studies. However, this paper focuses on four international competitiveness indices—revealed comparative advantage, participation, position, and income in the global value chain. We chose the automobile industry as the research object. Because it has a long industrial chain, high added value, and has a strong economic effect. These characteristics are very suitable for global value chain trade analysis. This study evaluates international competitiveness under the global value chain and conducts an empirical calculation during the period from 2005 to 2015 in the automotive industry. This paper adopts the comprehensive evaluation index of international competitiveness. The findings are listed below: Japan has been in the upper of the automotive global value chain for a long time due to its strong industrial foundation, core technology, and brand advantages. However, at present, the main emerging economies stand out conspicuously in the automotive global value chain.