Working Paper No. 183. The Eurovision Song Contest, Preferences and European Trade

PublicationWorking paper
Ari Kokko, Eurovision Song Contest, Företagandets villkor, Gravity model, Internationell handel, Patrik Tingvall

Abstract

Already Beckerman (1956) and Linder (1961) suggested that international trade is not determined by supply side factors alone – perceptions about foreign countries and country preferences matter. We explore the relation between exports, cultural distance, income differences and country preferences as revealed by voting in the European Song Contest. We conclude that preferences influence trade through several channels, and that results of the European Song Contest are a robust predictor of bilateral trade.

Kokko, A. & Gustavsson Tingvall, P. (2012). The Eurovision Song Contest, Preferences and European Trade. Ratio Working Paper No. 183.


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