Title: An integrated framework for export competitiveness: evidence from the global alcoholic beverages industry

Authors: Ilan Alon, Marc Fetscherin, James P. Johnson

Addresses: Crummer Graduate School of Business & Rollins China Center, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park, Florida 32789, USA. ' Crummer Graduate School of Business & Rollins China Center, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park, Florida 32789, USA. ' Crummer Graduate School of Business & Rollins China Center, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave, Winter Park, Florida 32789, USA

Abstract: Participation in international trade is a key indicator of an industry|s competitiveness. This study presents a framework for measuring the export competitiveness of an industry across countries that takes into account (a) industry specialisation, measured by the revealed comparative advantage, (b) industry export growth rate and (c) relative industry size. The framework is applied to the alcoholic beverages industry using data from the top 30 exporters of alcoholic beverages over a five-year period (2001–2005). The results indicate that the alcohol beverage export market is dynamic and changing, and that export competitiveness varies by country according to the sub-sector of the industry. A discussion of the application of the framework across industries and countries follows.

Keywords: comparative advantage; export competitiveness; Balassa index; international trade; industry analysis; export performance; alcohol industry; alcoholic beverages.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2011.038813

European Journal of International Management, 2011 Vol.5 No.2, pp.99 - 121

Published online: 11 Jan 2015 *

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