Vertical Specialisation in Europe: Evidence from the Import Content of Exports

27 Pages Posted: 28 Oct 2008

Date Written: September 8, 2008

Abstract

We use input-output tables to estimate the import content (IC) of exports for several European countries, interpreting this as a measure of internationalisation. Between 1995 and 2000 the IC grew everywhere but in France; the transport equipment sector emerged as the most internationalised one. The change we detect for a set of EMU countries is remarkable when compared with previous estimates over the 20-year period between 1970 and 1990. Italy and Germany showed very different patterns, although both started from a very low level of IC. Italy experienced the weakest growth and Germany the most sizeable rise. We argue that Italian firms might have felt less pressured to transform their organisation due to the delayed effects of the 1992 and 1995 Lira crises.

Keywords: external trade, outsourcing, import content, input-output analysis

JEL Classification: F14, C67

Suggested Citation

Breda, Emanuele and Cappariello, Rita and Zizza, Roberta, Vertical Specialisation in Europe: Evidence from the Import Content of Exports (September 8, 2008). Bank of Italy Temi di Discussione (Working Paper) No. 682, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1290513 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1290513

Emanuele Breda

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Rita Cappariello

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Roberta Zizza (Contact Author)

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
00184 Roma
Italy

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