This article provides evidence of a link between specialization patterns-in intermediate inputs or final goods-and business cycle correlations: countries with a similar intermediate goods content of exports tend to have more correlated gross domestic product fluctuations and external balances....

Tepid trade growth since the 2008/2009 global financial crisis (GFC) has been partly attributed to sluggish demand from developed countries. However, data reveals that developing countries play a bigger role in holding back trade growth, while developed countries show quite robust import growth....