The international division of labour and the newly industrializing countries

Abstract

There is no new international division of labour. Most developing countries and the Third World as a whole are still mainly exporting raw materials and goods with a low level of value added, and importing more advanced manufactured products. This is the main argument in this article, where the NICs are seen to be exceptions to the above general pattern. The NICs arc now under attack from rich Western countries, which may put their achieved level of economic activity in jeopardy.