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Article
Unit Values, Productivity, and Trade - Determinants of Spanish Export Strength
Global Economic Journal (2009)
  • Inma Martinez-Zarzoso
  • Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann D.
  • Sebastian Vollmer
Abstract

In this paper we assess the current relevance of different sources of international competitiveness. Relative prices, labor costs, and productivity are evaluated as determinants of a country’s international competitiveness at the industry level. Working with detailed data on unit values and with industry data on productivity, we empirically implement a MacDougall-type model for Spanish and French trade to Brazil, China, Japan, and the U.S.. The period under study is 1980 to 2001 and we distinguish in our analysis between homogenous, reference-priced, and differentiated goods. Our results indicate that cost competitiveness factors are only valid for explaining trade with developing countries while other factors are of importance for developed economies. Overall price competitiveness is of importance, but for differentiated goods, factors distinct from prices seem to determine export success.

Keywords
  • unit vaules,
  • competitivenes,
  • Spanish trade,
  • French trade,
  • industry level,
  • dynamic panel data
Disciplines
Publication Date
2009
Citation Information
Inma Martinez-Zarzoso, Felicitas Nowak-Lehmann D. and Sebastian Vollmer. "Unit Values, Productivity, and Trade - Determinants of Spanish Export Strength" Global Economic Journal Vol. forthcoming (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/inma_martinez_zarzoso/15/