import-substituting
UK[ˈɪmpɔːt ˈsʌbstɪtjuːtɪŋ]US[ˈɪmpɔːrt ˈsʌbstɪtuːtɪŋ]
adj
Describing an economic policy or industrial strategy aimed at replacing imported goods with domestically produced ones.
Morpheme Breakdown
import
substituting
import
goods or services brought into a country
substituting
Etymology
The term is a modern compound, specifically from the field of economics, formed in the mid-20th century. It combines the established noun 'import', which traces back to the Latin 'in-' (into) and 'portare' (to carry), with the present participle of 'substitute', from Latin 'sub-' (under, in place of) and 'statuere' (to set up, place). The compound's logic is transparent: it literally describes the action or policy of 'putting domestic production in place of imports'. This concept became prominent in development economics as nations sought to build domestic industrial capacity by reducing reliance on foreign goods.
Analysis
Structure: import + substituting
- import: From Latin 'importare' (to bring in), via Middle English. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning 'goods or services brought into a country'.
- substituting: From Latin 'substituere' (to put in place of), via Middle English. The present participle form '-ing' functions adjectivally, indicating the action of replacing.
Examples
The government's import-substituting industrialization policy led to the growth of local manufacturing.
Critics argue that import-substituting strategies can lead to inefficiency and higher prices for consumers.
Many developing countries adopted import-substituting measures to protect their infant industries from international competition.