Chapter 6: Science & Engineering Indicators 93
Exports Share of Total Manufacturing Production
Historically, the United States has not been an economy oriented toward serving foreign markets. In fact, in the United States, exports account for a smaller proportion of manufacturers' shipments than in
any other industrialized economy. (See figure 6-6 and appendix table 6-4.) From 1981 to 1985, U.S. producers exported about 8 to 9 percent of total
domestic production; this proportion rose to nearly 13 percent in 1992. By comparison, during this same period, Japanese producers exported 15 percent of that country's domestic production in 1981, 18 percent by 1986, and 22 percent by 1992. European
Community manufacturers exported even higher percentages of domestic output. In 1981, European producers exported 31 percent of total production, over 38 percent in 1986, and nearly 48 percent by 1992.(click here for
footnote 8)
While U.S. producers have reaped many benefits from having the largest home market in the world, mounting trade deficits of the 1980s also generated concern about the need to expand U.S. exports. U.S.
high-tech industries have traditionally been more successful than other U.S. industries in foreign markets. Consequently, high-tech industries have attracted considerable attention from policymakers as they seek ways to return the United States to a
more balanced trade position.
Footnote 8:
These figures include trade between individual European nations. If data were available that excluded this intra-European trade, exports by European producers would represent a significantly smaller share of total output.
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