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The revealed comparative advantages of late-Victorian Britain

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  • Varian, Brian

Abstract

This paper calculates indicators of revealed comparative advantage (RCA) and revealed symmetric comparative advantage (RSCA) for 17 British manufacturing industries for the years 1880, 1890, and 1900. The resulting indicators show that the late-Victorian ‘workshop of the world’ was at a marked comparative disadvantage in a number of manufacturing industries. The paper then proceeds to identify the factor determinants of Britain’s manufacturing comparative advantages (disadvantages) using a fourfactor Heckscher-Ohlin model that relies upon these indicators. In contrast with previous scholarship, the manufacturing comparative advantages of late-Victorian Britain were in the relatively labour nonintensive industries, and this pattern became more pronounced throughout the period. The paper concludes with the observation that the factor determinants of Britain’s manufacturing comparative advantages appear closer to those of the United States than had traditionally been thought.

Suggested Citation

  • Varian, Brian, 2016. "The revealed comparative advantages of late-Victorian Britain," Economic History Working Papers 66488, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:wpaper:66488
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/66488/
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    Cited by:

    1. Varian, Brian, 2018. "The economics of Edwardian imperial preference: what can New Zealand reveal?," Economic History Working Papers 88298, London School of Economics and Political Science, Department of Economic History.
    2. Hasan Halife, 2022. "Competitiveness Analysis of Textile Industry of Turkey: Revealed Comparative Advantage Approach," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 25-30, December.
    3. Giacomo Domini, 2019. "Patterns of specialisation and economic complexity through the lens of universal exhibitions, 1855-1900," LEM Papers Series 2019/20, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    comparative advantage; Heckscher-Ohlin; manufacturing; Britain; nineteenth century;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • N63 - Economic History - - Manufacturing and Construction - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N73 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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