Intra-industry trade in the beer industry within the enlarged European union

Abstract

In recent decades intra-industry trade (IIT) has become a widespread phenomenon, with its growing role in international trade providing strong incentives for theoretical and empirical research. The stronger economic ties among European countries arising from the creation and expansion of the European Union (EU) have contributed to an increase in IIT among EU Member States. There is a wealth of literature on IIT between a particular Member State and its partner (Jensen and Lüthje, 2009 Milgram-Baleix and Moro-Egido, 2010). However, many of these studies have focused on industrial products. In addition, recent studies (Leitão, 2011; Jámbor 2014a, 2014b; Ferto and Jámbor, 2015) suggest that the role of IIT has been increasing in agricultural trade between European Member States.