Price Convergence in the Enlarged Internal Market

Price Convergence in the Enlarged Internal Market
Author: Christian Dreger
Publisher:
Total Pages: 103
Release: 2007
Genre: Europe
ISBN: 9789279046452

The studies' main aim is to investigate the effects of the EU-10 enlargement on price convergence within the Internal Market. It distinguishes between the opposite forces provided by: (1) the catching up effect of the EU-10, expected to lead to a rise in price levels; and (2) increased competitiveness pressure on prices expected to lower price levels due to lower mark ups of prices over marginal costs. The study is based on comparative price levels for the EU-25, covering the period 1999-2004. Distinct variables were identified as proxies for the catching-up and competition forces. The following analysis proceeded in two steps. First, it is examined whether price convergence has occurred and, second, what are its main drivers. The results confirm the presence of price convergence. This process is particularly visible in the case of basic headings, most likely because they are related to more homogeneous products. Moreover, both catching up and competition have been important factors for explaining price convergence. In addition, both effects seem to be more pronounced for the EU-10 than for the EU-15.

Three Essays on Convergence and Persistence of Prices in the European Union

Three Essays on Convergence and Persistence of Prices in the European Union
Author: Olena Ogrokhina
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2013
Genre: Economics
ISBN:

This dissertation consists of three essays on the persistence and convergence of prices in the European Union. In the first essay I study price differentials in the Eurozone by comparing prices for specific goods between European cities, and estimate their persistence. The second essay tests the effect of the single market and single currency (euro) on price convergence in the European Union. The third essay tests the effect of trade on price convergence. In my first essay, using the Economist Intelligence Unit data I find that the Southern countries of the Eurozone have consistently lower prices. While the Core states such as Germany and France are more expensive, price differentials within the Core are very low. Using panel data I estimate the persistence of deviations from the Law of One Price by employing linear and nonlinear panel unit root tests that account for contemporaneous as well as serial correlation. Based on the linear test, the estimated half-lives of the deviations from the Law of One Price are 13 months for traded goods and 15 months for non-traded goods. Price differentials for certain traded goods revert to parity at different speeds, for example prices for food adjusts much faster than for cars. Splitting the data series for individual goods into stationary and non-stationary components reduces the half-lives to 3 months for traded goods and 5 months for non-traded goods. The results of the nonlinear test suggest that the speed of reversion to parity is constant and independent of the size of the deviations, which implies prices based on good-specific data adjust in a linear rather than a nonlinear fashion. The implementation of international treaties in the European Union was expected to promote integration of consumer markets. In my second essay, I analyze the convergence of prices for a range of traded goods. Large price differentials remain across Europe. Using high income non-euro European countries as a control group, I test the effect of the euro and the earlier implemented Single European Act on the convergence of prices in the European Union. Using a difference-in-difference estimation strategy, I find that the Single European Act, rather than the common currency, reduced price differentials and promoted price convergence. Wide price differences still exist across the members of the European Union. While differentials among the ``old'' EU members have changed little over time, large price differentials between the Eastern and Central EU and the Eurozone have reduced significantly, with prices completely converging to the levels of the Southern EU. In my third essay I test the effect of trade on price differentials. The fixed effects estimate shows strong correlation between price differentials and bilateral trade, a 1\% increase in bilateral trade reduces price differences by 9\%. This finding is completely driven by the Eastern and Central EU. Since the relationship between the price differentials and trade can go in either direction, an instrument is required to estimate a causal relationship. Instrumental-variables strategy shows that the effect of trade on price differentials for the Eastern and Central EU is even larger, at 13\%, yet insignificant for the remaining EU members.

Economic Convergence in the Euro Area: Coming Together or Drifting Apart?

Economic Convergence in the Euro Area: Coming Together or Drifting Apart?
Author: Mr.Jeffrey R. Franks
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 47
Release: 2018-01-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484338499

We examine economic convergence among euro area countries on multiple dimensions. While there was nominal convergence of inflation and interest rates, real convergence of per capita income levels has not occurred among the original euro area members since the advent of the common currency. Income convergence stagnated in the early years of the common currency and has reversed in the wake of the global economic crisis. New euro area members, in contrast, have seen real income convergence. Business cycles became more synchronized, but the amplitude of those cycles diverged. Financial cycles showed a similar pattern: sychronizing more over time, but with divergent amplitudes. Income convergence requires reforms boosting productivity growth in lagging countries, while cyclical and financial convergence can be enhanced by measures to improve national and euro area fiscal policies, together with steps to deepen the single market.

Five Years of an Enlarged EU

Five Years of an Enlarged EU
Author: Filip Keereman
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2010-07-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3642125166

The Fifth Enlargement that took place in 2004 and 2007 was a milestone in the history of the European Union. Not only because of the large number of acceding countries but also because of their recent political and economic experience. Ten of them had undergone a profound transition from a totalitarian regime to democracy, and from a centrally planned economy to a market-based system. Most of them had income levels signi?cantly below those of the then EU-15. Now, 6 years later, we can clearly see that the process of European integration, both before and after 2004, was what enabled Europe to overcome the gaps between various parts of the continent. The enlargement made Europe a better and wealthier place and streng- ened its position in the world. Integration into the European Union has always been one of the strongest incentives for reform in the new Member States. Particularly important in my view have been the development of ?nancial markets through foreign direct investment and capital in?ows, and the opening of labour markets – which was a two-way phenomenon, with markets being opened up in acceding as well as the incumbent Member States. The Fifth Enlargement was thus an exercise of glo- lisation in miniature, a practice run for the Union to tackle the challenges of the ever smaller world.

Measuring Globalisation: OECD Economic Globalisation Indicators 2010

Measuring Globalisation: OECD Economic Globalisation Indicators 2010
Author: OECD
Publisher: OECD Publishing
Total Pages: 235
Release: 2010-08-25
Genre:
ISBN: 9264084363

This second edition of the OECD Economic Globalisation Indicators presents a broad range of indicators on trade, foreign direct investment, the economic activity of multinational firms, and the internationalisation of technology.

Benefits of Price Convergence

Benefits of Price Convergence
Author: Gary Clyde Hufbauer
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 121
Release: 2002-01-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0881324469

Price divergence is readily apparent to anyone who shops. Travelers from Manchester to London, or from Chicago to Paris, are hit by sticker shock. Products ranging from London Fog raincoats to Viagra are available over the Internet at half their retail store prices. Common experience tells us that prices for identical products differ between countries, between cities, even between neighboring shops. On the other hand, common experience also tells us that open markets and greater competition will force a degree of price convergence, if not identical prices. This monograph presents speculative calculations that illustrate potential benefits from price convergence between countries. The authors take a fresh look at global economic integration by examining existing price divergence, and possible price convergence, across a range of consumer goods and then calculate the potential benefits of price convergence on a country-by-country basis and for the world as a whole. This study examines the potential benefits from price convergence resulting from more competition and market integration, not perfect competition and market integration. The authors calculate these benefits assuming that the world economy can attain the same degree of competition and market integration—and hence price convergence—as exists within the United States.

Global Capital Markets

Global Capital Markets
Author: Maurice Obstfeld
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 382
Release: 2004-02-19
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780521633178

Publisher Description

Emerging Markets and the Global Economy

Emerging Markets and the Global Economy
Author: Mohammed El Hedi Arouri
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 927
Release: 2013-12-26
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0124115632

Emerging Markets and the Global Economy investigates analytical techniques suited to emerging market economies, which are typically prone to policy shocks. Despite the large body of emerging market finance literature, their underlying dynamics and interactions with other economies remain challenging and mysterious because standard financial models measure them imprecisely. Describing the linkages between emerging and developed markets, this collection systematically explores several crucial issues in asset valuation and risk management. Contributors present new theoretical constructions and empirical methods for handling cross-country volatility and sudden regime shifts. Usually attractive for investors because of the superior growth they can deliver, emerging markets can have a low correlation with developed markets. This collection advances your knowledge about their inherent characteristics. Foreword by Ali M. Kutan - Concentrates on post-crisis roles of emerging markets in the global economy - Reports on key theoretical and technical developments in emerging financial markets - Forecasts future developments in linkages among developed and emerging economies