Development strategy, infrastructure, and premature deindustrialization: Comparing Asian, African, and Latin American economies

Abstract

This paper investigates the phenomenon of premature deindustrialization in developing countries, with a focus on Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, and examines why this trend primarily occurs in these regions rather than in East Asia. Through a comparative analysis of industrialization experiences across different economies since the 1960s, the paper argues that premature deindustrialization results from a combination of liberalization shocks, development strategies that defy comparative advantage, and inadequate infrastructure supply due to the lack of active state involvement in its provision driven by prevailing neoliberal ideas. This study empirically validates this hypothesis using country-sector-level data from 40 economies.