International trade and economic growth: an analysis considering the sectors and asymmetry of growth the states

Abstract This research aimed to analyze the relationship between international trade of basic commodities - semi-manufactured and manufactured - and economic growth of the Brazilian states, also considering the different growth levels of these states, from 1995 to 2011. The theoretical framework was based on the relationships between international trade and economic growth. The results showed that the estimated coefficients were statistically significant and with the signals as expected. In relation to international trade, it was found that only trade in basic commodities showed a positive and statistically significant relationship with the economic growth of the states. In addition, it is highlighted that the trade of manufactured, semi-manufactured and basics products affected by Sanitary/Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreements did'nt affect the economic growth of the Brazilian states. Considering the different levels of economic growth, it was found that there were changes in the signal and/or in statistical significance in certain quantile if compared to the dynamic panel model for variables representing the international trade in manufactured, semi-manufactured and basics products, infrastructure and government spending.