Skip to main content

Terms of Trade and Economic Development

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics
  • 56 Accesses

Abstract

One of the most widely discussed theories concerning the terms of trade of developing countries is the Prebisch–Singer hypothesis, independently published in 1950 (Prebisch 1950; Singer 1950). This hypothesis proclaimed a structural tendency for the terms of trade of developing countries to deteriorate in their dealings with industrial countries. In the original form this related mainly to the terms of trade between primary commodities and manufactured goods from the industrial countries. The historical statistical basis was an analysis of British terms of trade during the period 1873–1938 which corresponded to this image of exports of manufactured goods in exchange for primary commodities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 6,499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 8,499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Ellsworth, P.T. 1956. The terms of trade between primary producing and industrial countries. Inter-American Economic Affairs 10: 47–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmanuel, A. 1972. Unequal exchange. New York/London: Monthly Review Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furtado, C. 1964. Development and underdevelopment. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haberler, G. 1961. Terms of trade and economic development. In Economic development for Latin America, ed. H.S. Ellis. London: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keynes, J.M. 1938. The policy of government storage of foodstuffs and raw materials. Economic Journal 48: 449–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, W.A. 1954. Economic development with unlimited supplies of labour. Manchester School of Economics and Social Studies 22: 139–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, T. 1959. The long-run terms of trade between agriculture and manufacturing. Economic Development and Cultural Change 8: 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prebisch, R. 1950. The economic development of Latin America and its principal problems. New York: UN Economic Commission for Latin America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapsford, D. 1985. The statistical debate on the net barter terms of trade between primary commodities and manufactures: A comment and some additional evidence. Economic Journal 95(379): 781–788.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seers, D. 1983. The political economy of nationalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, H.W. 1950. The distribution of gains between investing and borrowing countries. American Economic Review 40: 473–485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spraos, J. 1980. The statistical debate on the net barter terms of trade between primary commodities and manufactures. The Economic Journal 90(357): 107–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spraos, J. 1983. Inequalising trade? Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spraos, J. 1985. A reply. Economic Journal 95(379): 789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thirlwall, A.P. 1983. Growth and development, with special reference to developing economies, 3rd ed. London: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Todaro, M.P. 1969. A model of labour migration and urban unemployment in less developed countries. American Economic Review 59(1): 138–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viner, J. 1953. International trade and economic development. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Copyright information

© 2018 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Singer, H.W. (2018). Terms of Trade and Economic Development. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_1612

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics