La industria española y las redes de producción europeas

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to advance the knowledge of Spain.s participation in international production networks using data on trade in parts and components from 1990 to 2007. We have estimated the factors that influence trade in parts and components using an extended gravity panel data model. In addition to the standard variables in gravity models, we examine the role of differences in comparative advantages between Spain and its trading partners and the role of service link costs in parts and components trade. Our results show that the Spain.s integration in production networking responds to variable related to the comparative advantage that Spain has in comparison with its trading countries; moreover, the creation of the EU has crucially stimulated Spanish trade in parts and components. Other factors such as geographic proximity and availability of mediumhigh quality transport and telecommunications infrastructures have boosted Spanish participation in European production-sharing networks, compensating for the lack of location advantages related to lower development countries.