Structural Changes in Comparative Advantages of the BRICS

This article discusses the structural changes that have taken place in the five emerging markets forming the BRICS grouping during the last two decades. The comparative advantages or disadvantages of the five economies are identified using revealed symmetric comparative advantage index. The long-run shifts in the comparative advantages and disadvantages are further analysed across the BRICS countries. The results show a continuous shift from primary manufacturing and from production of merchandise with low added value, to more sophisticated goods.