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Compétitivités prix et qualité dans le commerce international : une analyse empirique des échanges de 12 pays de l’OCDE

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  • Hélène Erkel-Rousse
  • Françoise Le Gallo

Abstract

[eng] The primary aim of this paper is to quantify the respective roles of quality and price competitiveness in the trade performance of twelve OECD countries in the first half of the 1990s. The method used combines analysis of unit values of trade, market shares and relative sizes of the economies in competition on external markets. The resulting typology indicates that national models of trade specialisation are highly diversified in the European Union. Notably, the trade performance of Germany and, to a lesser extent, France seems to be linked to product quality, whereas in the case of Italy and Spain it seems to be based more on relatively low selling prices. A proxy for the quality competitiveness of exporting countries at sectoral level is derived from this descriptive analysis and added to explanatory factors in a market-share equation. The result is a rise in the estimated price-elasticity of imports, which then becomes compatible with elasticities of substitution that are greater than unity, consistent with the underlying theoretical modelling. [fre] Dans cet article, on cherche tout d’abord à quantifier les rôles respectifs des compétitivités prix et qualité dans les performances commerciales de douze pays de l’OCDE sur la première moitié des années quatre-vingt-dix. La méthode utilisée combine l’analyse des valeurs unitaires du commerce, des parts de marché et des tailles relatives des économies en concurrence sur les marchés extérieurs. Selon la typologie qui en découle, les modèles nationaux de spécialisation commerciale seraient très diversifiés au sein de l’Union européenne. Les performances commerciales de l’Allemagne et, dans une moindre mesure, de la France seraient notablement liées à la qualité de leurs produits, tandis que les compétitivités italienne et espagnole reposeraient davantage sur des prix de vente relativement peu élevés. Une proxy de la compétitivité qualité sectorielle des pays exportateurs est tirée de cette analyse descriptive et ajoutée aux facteurs explicatifs d’une équation de parts de marché. Il en résulte une hausse des élasticités prix estimées des importations. Celles-ci deviennent ainsi compatibles avec des élasticités de substitution supérieures à l’unité, conformes à la modélisation théorique sous-jacente.

Suggested Citation

  • Hélène Erkel-Rousse & Françoise Le Gallo, 2002. "Compétitivités prix et qualité dans le commerce international : une analyse empirique des échanges de 12 pays de l’OCDE," Économie et Prévision, Programme National Persée, vol. 152(1), pages 93-113.
  • Handle: RePEc:prs:ecoprv:ecop_0249-4744_2002_num_152_1_6368
    DOI: 10.3406/ecop.2002.6368
    Note: DOI:10.3406/ecop.2002.6368
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    1. Keith Head & Thierry Mayer, 2002. "Effet frontière, intégration économique et “Forteresse Europe”," Economie & Prévision, La Documentation Française, vol. 0(1), pages 71-92.
    2. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/c8dmi8nm4pdjkuc9g8o1h74in is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Keith Head & Thierry Mayer, 2002. "Effet frontière, intégration économique et “Forteresse Europe”," Economie & Prévision, La Documentation Française, vol. 0(1), pages 71-92.
    4. Christophe Blot & Marion Cochard, 2008. "L'énigme des exportations revisitée. Que faut-il retenir des données de panel ?," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(3), pages 67-100.
    5. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/6404 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Stéphane Guimbert & François Lévy-Bruhl, 2002. "La situation de l'emploi en France face aux échanges internationaux," Économie et Prévision, Programme National Persée, vol. 152(1), pages 189-206.

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