Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A theoretical evaluation of alternative trade intensity measures of revealed comparative advantage

  • Articles
  • Published:
Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Eine theoretische Bewertung von alternativen Messungen der HandelsintensitÄt offenbarter komparativer Vorteile. — In der Literatur gibt es zahlreiche Indizes für offenbarte komparative Vorteile, die die tatsÄchlichen komparativen Vorteile annÄhernd wiedergeben sollen. In diesem Aufsatz wird der theoretische Unterbau dieser alternativen Indizes bewertet und dabei die Aufmerksamkeit auf die besonders relevanten IntensitÄtsma\e gerichtet. Als Basis für die Bewertung und Interpretation wird Kunimotos integrativer Ansatz verwendet. Zwischen den verschiedenen empirischen Ma\en und dem theoretischen Konzept der komparativen Vorteile werden Verbindungen hergestellt. Au\erdem werden die Beziehungen zwischen globalen und bilateralen Indizes der HandelsintensitÄt angesprochen sowie angesichts der vieldimensionalen RealitÄt Bedenken über die Gültigkeit von LÄnder- und Gütervergleichen vorgebracht.

Résumé

Une évaluation théorique des mesures alternatives d’intensité du commerce des avantages comparatifs rélévés. — Dans la littérature il y a des nombreux indexes des avantages comparatifs rélévés qui sont construits pour indiquer les avantages comparatifs de la réalité. L’auteur évalue les fondements théoriques de ces indexes alternatifs et concentre l’attention sur les mesures d’intensité les plus intéressantes. Il utilise le système intégratif de Kunimoto comme une base pour l’évaluation et l’interprétation. Il établi des liens entre les mesures différentes empiriques et le concept théorique des avantages comparatifs. L’auteur discute aussi des relations entre les indexes d’intensité du commerce global et bilatéral et s’adresse à la question de la validité des comparaisons au niveau des biens et des pays divers dans un monde réel multidimensional.

Resumen

Una evaluación teórica de indicadores alternativos de ventajas comparativas reveladas através de la intensidad del comercio. — En la literatura existen numerosos indices de las ventajas comparativas reveladas que persiguen el fin de aproximar las ventajas comparativas reaies. En este trabajo se evalûan los fundamentos teóricos de estos indices alternativos, particularmente de los indicadores de intensidad mâs interesantes. El marco integrador de Kunimoto es utilizado como base para la evaluación e interpretación. Se establecen lazos entre varios indicadores empiricos y el concepto teórico de ventaja comparativa. También se analizan las relaciones entre los indices de intensidad de comercio global y bilateral y la validez de comparaciones a nivel de bien y de pais en el mundo real multidimensional.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Balassa, Bela, “Trade Liberalization and ‘Revealed’ Comparative Advantage.”The Manchester School of Economic and Social Studies, Vol. 33, 1965, pp. 99–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, “‘Revealed’ Comparative Advantage Revisited: An Analysis of Relative Export Shares of the Industrial Countries, 1953-1971.”The Manchester School of Economic and Social Studies, Vol.45, 1977, pp. 327–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, “The Changing Pattern of Comparative Advantage in Manufactured Goods.”The Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol.61, 1979, pp. 259–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballance, Robert, Helmut Forstner, Tracy Murray, “On Measuring Comparative Advantage: A Note on Bowen’s Indices.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 121, 1985, pp. 346–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, -Helmut Forstner, -Tracy Murray, “More on Measuring Comparative Advantage: A Reply.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 122, 1986, pp. 375–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, -Helmut Forstner, -Tracy Murray, “Consistency Tests of Alternative Measures of Comparative Advantage.”The Review of Economics and Statistics, Vol. 69, 1987, pp. 157–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, Harry P., “On the Theoretical Interpretation of Indices of Trade Intensity and Revealed Comparative Advantage.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 119, 1983, pp. 464–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, “On Measuring Comparative Advantage: A Reply and Extension.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 121, 1985, pp. 351–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, Harry P., “On Measuring Comparative Advantage: Further Comments.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 122, 1986, pp. 379–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donges, Juergen B., James Riedel, “The Expansion of Manufactured Exports in Developing Countries: An Empirical Assessment of Supply and Demand Issues.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 113, 1977, pp. 58–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillman, Arye L., “Observations on the Relation between ‘Revealed Comparative Advantage’ and Comparative Advantage as Indicated by Pre-Trade Relative Prices.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 116, 1980, pp. 315–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanamori, Hisao,Exports of Manufactures and Industrial Development of Japan. United Nations Document E/Conf. 46/p/12. Geneva 1964.

  • Kojima, Kiyoshi, “The Pattern of International Trade Among Advanced Countries.”Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Vol. 5, 1964, pp. 16–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kunimoto, Kazutaka, “Typology of Trade Intensity Indices.”Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Vol. 17, 1977, pp. 15–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liesner, H.H., “The European Common Market and British Industry.”The Economic Journal, Vol. 68, 1958, pp. 302–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchese, Serafino, Francisco Nadal De Simone, “Monotonicity of Indices of ‘Revealed’ Comparative Advantage: Empirical Evidence on Hillman’s Condition.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 125, 1989, pp. 158–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO),Changing Patterns of Trade in World Industry: An Empirical Study on Revealed Comparative Advantage. New York 1982.

  • Vollrath, Thomas L.,Revealed Competitiveness for Wheat. Economic Research Service Staff Report No. AGES861030. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Washington, D.C., 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Competitiveness and Protection in World Agriculture. Agricultural Information Bulletin No. 567. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Washington, D.C., 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • -,De Huu Vo, “Agricultural Competitiveness in an Interdependent World.”Agriculture and Governments in an Interdependent World. International Association of Agricultural Economists Occasional Paper No. 5. Hants, England, 1990, pp. 141–149.

  • Yamazawa, Ippei, “Intensity Analysis of World Trade Flow.”Hitotsubashi Journal of Economics, Vol. 10, 1970, pp. 61–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeats, Alexander J., “On the Appropriate Interpretation of the Revealed Comparative Advantage Index: Implications of a Methodology Based on Industry Sector Analysis.”Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Vol. 121, 1985, pp. 61–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Thomas L. Vollrath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Vollrath, T.L. A theoretical evaluation of alternative trade intensity measures of revealed comparative advantage. Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv 127, 265–280 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02707986

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02707986

Keywords

Search

Navigation