Comparative Advantage and World Market Structure of Saffron
Subject Areas : Agricultural Economics Research
S.K. Sadeghi
1
(استادیار گروه اقتصاد دانشگاه تبریز)
S. Khodaverdizadeh
2
(دانشجوی کارشناسی گروه اقتصاد دانشگاه تبریز)
M. Khodaverdizadeh
3
(دانشجوی دکترای اقتصاد کشاورزی دانشگاه تربیت مدرس)
Keywords: Iran, export, Comparative Advantage, market structure, Saffron,
Abstract :
This study aims to determine comparative advantage and global export market structure of saffron during 2004-2008. For this purpose, Revealed Comparative Advantage and Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage indices were applied. In order to determine global market structure of saffron Herfindahl and Concentration Ratio indices were used. Results revealed that among saffron’s export countries only Iran, Spain and Greece had comparative advantage. The results of the comparative advantage index showed Iran comparative advantage was higher relative to other countries but it was declining during the study period. Spain, Italy, France, Sweden, Arabia and India were the biggest commercial partners of Iran. Analysis of world market structure of saffron showed that Iran was considered a large country with 70 percent share in the world market of saffron. Finally, some recommendations are made to improve comparative advantage of Iran in saffron export market.