TY  - JOUR
AU  - Blomstrom,Magnus
AU  - Lipsey,Robert E.
TI  - U.S. Firms in Latin American Service Industries
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 2307
PY  - 1990
Y2  - May 1990
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w2307
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w2307.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Magnus Blomstrom
European Institute of Japanese Studies
Stockholm School of Economics
Post Office Box 6501, Sveavagen 65
S-113 83 Stockholm
 SWEDEN
Tel: 46-8-7369265
Fax: 46-8-313017
E-Mail: magnus.blomstrom@gmail.com

Robert E. Lipsey
NBER
365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5318
New York, NY 10016-4309
Tel: 212/817-7961
Fax: 212/817-1597
E-Mail: N/A user is deceased
AB  - The participation of U.S. service industry firms in Latin American markets for services consists mainly of the activities of U.S.-owned affiliates operating in Latin America and very little of direct exports of ser- vices from the U.S. The important policy issues thus involve barriers to the establishment and operation of affiliates in host countries rather than trade barriers. Since direct investment rather than trade is at issue, the comparative advantages that are important are those of U.S. multinational firms rather than those of the U.S. as a country. The characteristics we observe in U.S. multinationals in these industries, particularly their low R & D intensity, are not those usually associated with the comparative advantages of U.S. multinationals. However, their skill intensity is relatively high. A more detailed breakdown of the sector does show at least some industries, particularly in finance, in which skill levels are very high, and these are the most likely candidates for major gains for U.S. multinationals. Nevertheless, U.S. shares in the Latin American service sector are very small overall and not likely to reach the levels in manufacturing or petroleum in the foreseeable future.
ER  -