Measuring International Economic Integration: Theory and Evidence of Globalization

Iván Arribas, Francisco Perez and Emili Tortosa-Ausina

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This article features a set of indicators designed to measure international economic integration and globalization. We analyze the degree of openness and the respective networks of connections---both direct and indirect---for each economy in our sample. Our indicators are based on network analysis techniques and the exchange of flows among world economies. Starting from four basic axioms of international economic integration, we define the Standard of Perfect International Integration, along with the set of indicators for degree of openness and connectedness, both for each specific economy and for the world economy as a whole. We apply our indicators to data on trade flows for 59 countries---accounting for 96.7% of world output---for the 1967--2004 period. According to our results, international economic integration is higher than what traditional degree of openness indicators suggest. The advance of globalization is unequal among countries because of the differing trends in their degree of openness and the differences in the intensity with which economies are connected to each other. Several economies now appear to be internationally integrated; however, the relatively low degree of openness in some of the largest economies jeopardizes the progress of globalization. We also perform some simulations which suggest that, should technological progress lead to an increase in indirect connections, the move towards greater international economic integration would accelerate.

Keywords: International Economic Integration; Globalization; International Trade; Network Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F02 F15 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006, Revised 2006
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Measuring International Economic Integration: Theory and Evidence of Globalization (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:16010

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