Transcending the geographical stickiness of complex economic activities via strategic unrelated diversification

Developing economies often face challenges in catching up and leapfrogging due to the drawbacks of industrial restructuring. This study identifies the geographical stickiness of high-complexity industries and proposes an optimal industrial diversification strategy using a thorough examination of industry entry and maintenance at the global level. The findings indicate that the mechanisms driving the geographical stickiness of complex industries are linked to their reliance on a larger number of related complex industries, as explained by the “capabilities approach”. Moreover, we encourage developing countries to strategically diversify into a small group of related and inter-dependent high-complexity industries simultaneously, a process called “strategic unrelated diversification”, thereby increasing the probability of industrial transformation. These findings have significant implications for explaining why certain countries struggle with industrial restructuring and how to facilitate industrial upgrading effectively.