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Price convergence in the enlarged internal market

Author

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  • Christian Dreger
  • Konstantin Kholodilin
  • Kirsten Lommatzsch
  • Jirka Slacalek
  • Przemyslaw Wozniak

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Dreger & Konstantin Kholodilin & Kirsten Lommatzsch & Jirka Slacalek & Przemyslaw Wozniak, 2007. "Price convergence in the enlarged internal market," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 292, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    • Handle: RePEc:euf:ecopap:0292
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    3. Richard Pospisil & Jarmila Koudelkova, 2016. "Price Convergence to the EU: Some Evidence for the Czech Republic," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 4(2), pages 32-38, November.
    4. Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz & Rembert De Blander, 2009. "Price convergence in the European Union and in the New Member States," Bank i Kredyt, Narodowy Bank Polski, vol. 40(2), pages 37-59.
    5. Václav Žďárek, 2011. "Empirická analýza průběhu cenové konvergence ČR a nových členských zemí EU k eurozóně [An Empirical Analysis of Price Convergence of the Czech Republic and the New EU Member States towards the Euro," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2011(4), pages 454-474.
    6. Christian Dreger & Eric Girardin, 2007. "Does the Nominal Exchange Rate Regime Affect the Long Run Properties of Real Exchange Rates?," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 746, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    7. Becker, Sascha, 2011. "What drives the relationship between inflation and price dispersion? Market power vs. price rigidity," SFB 649 Discussion Papers 2011-019, Humboldt University Berlin, Collaborative Research Center 649: Economic Risk.
    8. Cassetta, Ernesto & Nava, Consuelo R. & Zoia, Maria Grazia, 2022. "EU electricity market integration and cross-country convergence in residential and industrial end-user prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    EU enlargement; Internal Market; price convergence; Balassa Samuelson effect; competition; Dreger; Kholodilin; Lommatzsch; Slacalek; Wozniak;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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