Journal of Applied Economics

Export Dynamics in Times of Multiple Crises and Uncertainty

At the turn of the century, a series of international shocks affecting exports slowed the pace of globalization after a long period of booming cross-border transactions that had expanded the frontiers of international trade. From the global financial crisis in 2008 and the European sovereign debt crisis in 2010 to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the Russia-Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022, and rising import tariffs in 2025, these shocks have had a profound impact on global trade and could trigger a new slowdown. The crises have led to skepticism toward globalization and renewed motivation to reshape the emerging architecture of international trade, forcing companies, regions and countries to rethink their international strategies in order to improve the competitiveness of their exports. As painful as these crises are, they also bring opportunities, a chance to see what is not working and make needed, often radical, changes.

Exports are a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and innovation, so in times of crisis, trade disruptions can trigger economic instability, job losses, and failing incomes. Recent shocks have exposed critical vulnerabilities in global trade, forcing firms and governments to reassess trade dependencies and resilience strategies. Moreover, uncertainty surrounding crises impacts investment decisions, supply chains, and trade agreements, shaping long-term sustainable economic development. Understanding how exports respond to multiple crises and increasing uncertainty is critical for policymakers, managers and economists to propose new policies and business strategies to mitigate risk and enhance resilience. By examining how past and present crises shape export performance, this article collection aims to provide insights that can inform trade policy, guide new export strategies, and identify pathways towards a more resilient and sustainable global trading system.

Building on these challenges, we invite the submission of high-quality original research papers that examine the multifaceted impact of crises on exports. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• How firms, industries and countries adapt their export strategies in times of crisis.
• The effects of economic and political uncertainty on export dynamics.
• Comparative analysis of past and current crises and their long-term effects on trade patterns.
• The role of financial constraints, financial instruments and government support in export performance during crises.
• The role of regional trade agreements in mitigating risks and enhancing stability.
• The resilience of global supply chains in times of disruption.
• Reshoring, nearshoring, and friendshoring trends in response to trade disruptions.
• The impact of digital trade strategies on risk mitigation and export resilience.
• Trade disruptions caused by climate change and their impact on export strategies.

Carlos Carreira, PhD, is Full Professor of Economics at the University of Coimbra, and researcher at the Centre for Business and Economics Research (CeBER). His primary research interests are applied microeconomics and industrial organisation. In particular, he has been analysing firm dynamics and their relationship with productivity, innovation, financial constraints and exports as well as agglomeration economies and regional knowledge spillovers. He has published several articles in leading academic journals.

Luis Lopes, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra, Faculty of Economics, and researcher at the Centre for Business and Economics Research (CeBER). His main areas of research include international trade, regional economics, and economic geography. His publications include articles in peer-reviewed national and international journals.

Neither Guest Advisor has any conflicts of interest to disclose. 

For more information, contact the Commissioning Editor, Dr. Molly Cole, at molly.cole@taylorandfrancis.com