Specialization patterns in Europe

Specialization Patterns in Europe. — This paper analyzes whether specialization has increased in European Union countries, and discusses whether specialization patterns are consistent with predictions of trade theory. There is evidence of increasing specialization in some EU countries between 1968 and 1990, and some industries have become more concentrated geographically. The observed pattern of specialization broadly follows trade theory. In particular, those industries that have become more concentrated geographically are characterized by high scale economies and high intermediate-goods intensity, providing some support for new trade theories.ZusammenfassungSpezialisierungsmuster in Europa. — Die Autorin unter-sucht, ob in den LÄndern der EuropÄischen Union die Spezialisierung angestiegen ist, und erörtert, ob die Spezialisierungsmuster mit den Voraussagen der Handelstheorie im Einklang stehen. In der Tat gibt es Anzeichen für eine verstÄrkte Spezialisierung in einigen EU-LÄndern zwischen 1968 und 1990, und einige Industrien haben sich geografisch stÄrker konzentriert. Das festgestellte Spezialisierungsmuster entspricht im Gro\en und Ganzen der Handelstheorie. Insbesondere sind diejenigen Industrien, die geografisch mehr konzentriert worden sind, durch hohe SkalenertrÄge und einen hohen Einsatz an Zwischenprodukten gekennzeichnet, was die neuen Handelstheorien unterstützt.

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