Are OECD Export Specialisation Patterns 'Sticky'? Relations to the Convergence-Divergence Debate

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is twofold. We want to present and test a methodology capable to deal more satisfactorily with the question of stability of international export specialisation patterns and, secondly, we want to relate this issue to the convergence-divergence debate in growth theory and the rapidly increasing strand of literature on national systems of innovation.We conclude that the relative export structures are moving together in the long term. However, the speed of convergence is fairly slow, indicating that national export specialisation patterns are quite stubborn or 'sticky'. These findings are complementary to the new knowledge generated wit convergence-divergence debate in growth theory and the rapidly increasing strand of literature on natonal systems of innovation.