Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics

No 277: The Process of Economic Integration in Europe: Consequences for EFTA Countries and Firms

Jan Fagerberg
Additional contact information
Jan Fagerberg: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)

Abstract: This paper discusses the impact of the completion of the EC internal market on the competitive position of EFTA firms (and, hence, also on economic growth in EFTA countries). The discussion falls in three parts. First, the process of European economic integration in the last decades – as reflected in the composition of EC imports - is examined. Then follows a discussion of the likely effects of the internal market, and to what extent these should be expected to deviate much from what can be observed from European economic integration in the past. Finally, the special problems and opportunities of EFTA firms - as firms from small countries with small domestic markets - are considered. The conclusion is that EFTA firms are in a good position to exploit the possibilities offered by the current deregulation efforts and opening up of markets implied by the EC internal market plans.

Keywords: Economic integration; EFTA; Firms

JEL-codes: F10; F15

34 pages, November 1990

Full text files

wp277.pdf PDF-file 

Download statistics

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Elisabeth Gustafsson ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

This page generated on 2024-02-05 17:12:18.