Measuring Convergence of the EC Economies

Abstract

The success of the EC's plans for economic and political integration depends upon the degree of economic convergence of the national economies. The study of convergence is concerned with the relative long-run behavior of a number of time series and therefore involves the simultaneous analysis of time series and cross-section data. Alternative measures of convergence are outlined and a preferred approach based on both cointegration and time-varying parameter (Kalman filter) analysis is outlined. These are then used to measure EC convergence. The broad conclusions are that convergence has been taking place within the EC economies but that it is a much slower and more protracted process than many commentators suggest. Copyright 1992 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester