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

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.