IMPORTANCE OF SERVICES TRADE AND A CASE ON COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF TURKEY

Öz

Purpose: The services sector has been emerging as a key driver of global trade rather than merchandise trade. Together with the re-shaping role of digitalization, ICT and ICT enabled services have been of high importance for the global growth and presenting opportunities both for developed and even more for developing economies. Telecommunications, computer and information, insurance and pension, financial services, intellectual property are emphasized for being more efficient on economic growth and after the Covid-19 pandemic outbroke, the importance of ICT and related services were highlighted due to the rapid digital transformation the pandemic has triggered. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Turkey’s foreign trade competitiveness in ICT and ICT-enabled services comparing with the major exporters of aforementioned services. Method: Competitiveness of Turkey, USA, India and China are compared in the trade in services by using competitive advantage indices RCA, RXA, RMP, RTA, RC. Findings: Turkey has a surplus in its services trade, however, the sectors Turkey has competitiveness are travel and transport but not the ICT and ICT-enabled services. Digital transformation may help Turkey to both enable sustainable trade and faster recovery from pandemic. Originality: Originality of the paper comes from the indication of necessity to change the mixture of Turkey’s trade in services and the literature lacks this kind of research.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• competitive advantage
• pandemic
• services trade
• digitalization
• ICT
• covid-19

HİZMETLER TİCARETİNİN ÖNEMİ VE REKABETÇİ AVANTAJLAR VAKA ÇALIŞMASI

Öz

Amaç: Mal ticaretinden ziyade hizmetler sektörü, küresel ticaretin temel itici gücü olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Dijitalleşmenin yeniden şekillendirici rolüyle birlikte, BİT ve BİT destekli hizmetler, küresel büyüme açnısında hem gelişmiş ekonomiler hem de daha da çok gelişmekte olan ekonomiler için fırsatlar sunmaktadır. Telekomünikasyon, bilgisayar ve bilişim, sigorta ve emeklilik, finansal hizmetler ve fikri mülkiyetin, ekonomik büyüme üzerinde daha verimli olduğu vurgulanmaktadır ve Covid-19 salgının tetiklediği hızlı dijital dönüşüm nedeniyle BİT ve ilgili hizmetlerin önemi vurgulanmaktadır. Bu makalenin amacı, Türkiye’nin BİT ve BİT destekli hizmetlerdeki dış ticaret rekabetçiliğini, yukarıda bahsedilen hizmetlerin başlıca ihracatçıları ile karşılaştırarak analiz etmektir. Yöntem: Türkiye, ABD, Hindistan ve Çin'in hizmet sektörlerinde dış ticaret rekabet gücü, RCA, RXA, RMP, RTA, RC rekabet avantajı endeksleri kullanılarak karşılaştırılmıştır. Bulgular: Türkiye hizmet ticaretinde dış ticaret fazlası vermektedir, ancak Türkiye'nin rekabet gücü olan sektörler seyahat ve ulaşımdır, BİT ve ilgili sektörler değildir. Dijital dönüşüm, Türkiye'nin hem sürdürülebilir ticareti sağlamasına hem de pandemiden daha hızlı toparlanmasına yardımcı olabilecektir. Özgünlük: Makalenin özgünlüğü, Türkiye’nin hizmet ticaretinin karışımını değiştirme gerekliliğinin göstermesinden ve literatürde bu tür araştırmaların eksikliğinden gelmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• dijitalleşme
• hizmet ticareti
• pandemi
• BİT
• covid-19
• rekabetçi avantaj

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