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Compétitivité des produits français : une approche par la qualité

Author

Listed:
  • Frédéric Gagey
  • Jean-Philippe Vincent
  • M. Fourcade
  • T. Francq
  • J.-J. Preuss

Abstract

[fre] La présente étude se propose de mesurer l'évolution de la qualité des produits français sur la période 1972-1989 et son impact en terme de commerce extérieur. Réalisée à partir des tests comparatifs de la revue 50 millions de Consommateurs, elle a conduit à la construction d'un indicateur de la qualité des produits français relativement à celle des produits étrangers. Deux conclusions se dégagent de l'étude. D'une part, la qualité relative des produits français semble avoir connu sur la période étudiée des évolutions importantes et statistiquement significatives. Plutôt supérieure en début de période (1972-1976), la qualité des produits de consommation français se dégrade très sensiblement à la veille du second choc pétrolier (1977-1980). Un léger redressement au début de la décennie permet de retrouver sur la période 1981-1985 un niveau de qualité comparable, puis par la suite (1986-1989) plutôt supérieur à celui des produits concurrents importés sur le marché français. D'autre part, ces évolutions de la qualité apparaissent signi- ficativement corrélées aux pertes de parts de marché des producteurs français sur le marché intérieur. La dégradation de la qualité expliquerait ainsi, entre le début et le milieu des années soixante-dix, une augmentation de 4 % de nos importations de biens de consommation courante. [eng] The purpose of this paper is to measure the effect of quality of French products on the external trade and to evaluate the theoretical literature on the effects of product quality in relation to the facts. The first step of our work has been to built up a quality index of French consumer products. Our data have been provided by the tests of a French magazine, called «50 millions de consommateurs», which, since its creation in 1972, has tested thousands of different French and foreign commodities. Thanks to various statistical methods (chi-2 test, bootstrap...) we have been able to measure the evolution of the quality of French commodities (compared with the quality of foreign ones) throughout four periods: 1972-1976, 1977-1980, 1981-1985 and 1986-1989. Then we have introduced our quality indicator into an import equation of the French consumer products market. We have come to two main conclusions. Firstly, it has turned out that the quality of French consumer commodities had been superior to the quality of foreign commodities during two periods (1972-1976 and 1986-1989), equivalent during one period (1981-1985) and inferior between 1977 and 1980. Secondly, we have come to the evidence that the evolution of our quality index is significatively correlated with the market share of French firms in France. For instance the sharp decline of the quality of French consumer products between 1976 and 1980 is likely to have led to a 4% increase in imports during this period.

Suggested Citation

  • Frédéric Gagey & Jean-Philippe Vincent & M. Fourcade & T. Francq & J.-J. Preuss, 1990. "Compétitivité des produits français : une approche par la qualité," Revue de l'OFCE, Programme National Persée, vol. 32(1), pages 125-144.
  • Handle: RePEc:prs:rvofce:ofce_0751-6614_1990_num_32_1_1209
    DOI: 10.3406/ofce.1990.1209
    Note: DOI:10.3406/ofce.1990.1209
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    1. repec:bla:scandj:v:83:y:1981:i:3:p:372-89 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Esther Gal-Or, 1983. "Quality and Quantity Competition," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 14(2), pages 590-600, Autumn.
    3. Hjorth-Andersen, Chr, 1984. "The Concept of Quality and the Efficiency of Markets for Consumer Products," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 11(2), pages 708-718, September.
    4. Christian Hjorth-Andersen, 1988. "Quality Indicators: in Theory and in Fact," Discussion Papers 88-08, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    5. Hjorth-Andersen, Christian, 1983. "Lancaster's principle of efficient choice : An empirical note," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 1(3), pages 287-295, September.
    6. Jean-Christophe Donnellier, 1989. "L'image des produits français de grande consommation à l'étranger," Économie et Statistique, Programme National Persée, vol. 227(1), pages 3-10.
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    1. Michel Aglietta & Camille Baulant, 1994. "Contrainte extérieure et compétitivité dans la transition vers l'union économique et monétaire," Revue de l'OFCE, Programme National Persée, vol. 48(1), pages 7-54.

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