Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/32002 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
cege Discussion Papers No. 75
Publisher: 
University of Göttingen, Center for European, Governance and Economic Development Research (cege), Göttingen
Abstract: 
Building on the three-sector-hypothesis, the New Theory of Trade, and the New Economic Geography, we investigate the development of economic structures of European countries over the last three decades using employment data. We test for structural convergence which we analyze on the aggregate level as well as specifically for manufacturing and service industries. For this we implement both time series and panel data methods. Our results indicate overall structural convergence between Western European countries over time. This is mainly due to strong intersectoral convergence patterns as countries shift from industrialized to service economies. In contrast, the results regarding intrasectoral convergence are mixed: Increasing spatial concentration in production is dominant in technology-intensive manufacturing industries which are characterized by economies of scale and path-dependency, whereas convergence is found in mature, less technology-intensive industries. In most service branches country-specific differences do not change to a significant extent with the exception of transport and storage services.
Subjects: 
Structural Convergence
European Integration
Economic Development
JEL: 
O11
F14
F15
P27
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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