**4. Comparative advantage of honey exports of Serbia, Romania and Italy**

Studying comparative advantage in exports of honey from Serbia, we applied five indexes: relative advantages of export, relative import advantage, relative trade advantage, the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index. **Table 5** shows the indexes for all analysed years. The research found a positive comparative advantage of all five indices. Empirical research results of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Serbia in the period 2006–2015 are shown in **Table 5**.

Results of the research of comparative advantage of honey exports from Serbia show that all the five indexes have achieved positive values. The highest level has been achieved with relative export advantage, which has caused a high positive relative trade advantage. Relative import advantage has very low, however positive value and points to negative trends and the presence of some quantities in imports.

By analysing the variance (**Table 6**), we wanted to determine whether the mean variables vary in relation to the group. In Serbia case, empirical *F* value is 10.141 and *p* = 6.13308E−06, indicating that the differences between the indexes are statistically significant.

According to research conducted [19, 21, 22], we performed a correlation analysis of the obtained indexes, to examine the extent to which the indices related to the identification of comparative advantages (**Table 7**). By using Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs ) test of correlation, we have proved the existence of correlation between 10 paired samples, that is, found how much the Balassa index values covariate. For Serbia, we have two pairs with strong positive correlation with *p*-value below .01 so we can conclude that a correlation exists and the variables covariate. Test of connection of the Balassa index using Spearman formula shows that there is a correlation in three pairs with *p*-value below .1 and one pair with *p*-value below .05, so we can conclude that a correlation exists and that the variables covariate. It is interesting to conclude that there is a correlation right between relative export advantage and relative trade advantage, as well as between the found competitiveness and the found comparative advantage, which points to the conclusion that each growth in honey exports has positive effects on the growth of comparative advantage of exports.


Source: ITC and calculation of the author.

**Importers**

 **Exported** 

**Trade** 

**Share in** 

**Exported** 

**Quantity** 

**Unit value** 

**Exported** 

**Exported** 

**Exported** 

**Share of** 

**Total** 

**(USD/unit)**

**growth** 

**growth in** 

**growth** 

**partner** 

**import** 

14 Honey Analysis

**countries** 

**growth in** 

**in value** 

**in value** 

**quantity** 

**between** 

**between** 

**between** 

**in world** 

**value of** 

**2011 and** 

**2011 and** 

**2014 and** 

**imports (%)**

**partner** 

**countries** 

**between** 

**2011 and** 

**2015 (%** 

**p.a.)**

**2015 (%** 

**2015 (%** 

**2015 (%** 

**p.a.)**

**p.a.)**

**p.a.)**

**value 2015** 

**balance** 

**countries** 

**quantity** 

**unit**

**(USD** 

**2015 (USD** 

**exports (%)**

**2015**

**thousand)**

Exported by

World

 43,800

−40,734

100

 8882

 Tons

 4931

 8

6

−6

100

 9

Italy

Exported by

World

 9670

 9550

 100

 2045

 Tons

 4729

 9

8

 11

 100

 9

Serbia

Exported by

World

 46,045

 39,880

 100

 10,863

 Tons

 4239

 4

1

−15

100

 9

Romania

**Exporters**

 **Imported** 

**Trade** 

**Share in** 

**Imported** 

**Quantity** 

**Unit value** 

**Imported** 

**Imported** 

**Imported** 

**Share of** 

**Total export** 

**(USD/unit)**

**growth** 

**growth in** 

**growth** 

**partner** 

**growth in** 

**countries** 

**value of** 

**in value** 

**in value** 

**quantity** 

**between** 

**between** 

**between** 

**in world** 

**partner** 

**2011 and** 

**2011 and** 

**2014 and** 

**exports (%)**

**countries** 

**between** 

**2011 and** 

**2015 (%** 

**p.a.)**

**2015 (%** 

**2015 (%** 

**2015 (%** 

**p.a.)**

**p.a.)**

**p.a.)**

**value 2015** 

**balance** 

**Italy's** 

**quantity** 

**unit**

**(USD** 

**2015 (USD** 

**imports (%)**

**2015**

**thousand)**

Imported by

World

 84,534

−40,734

100

 23,549

 Tons

 3590

 13

 13

−7

100

 10

Italy

Imported by

World

 120

 9550

 100

 15

 Tons

 8000

 11

 0

 1100

 100

 10

Serbia

Imported by

World

 6165

 39,880

 100 **Table 4.** List of importing markets and list of importing markets for the product for the product 0409 natural honey.

 2450

 Tons

 2516

 16

 22

−26

100

 10

Romania

**thousand)**

**thousand)**

**Table 5.** Descriptive statistics for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes of exports of honey from Serbia in the period 2006–2015.


**Table 6.** ANOVA and one sample test for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes for Serbia in the period from 2006 to 2015.


**ANOVA** SS

Between groups

Within groups

Total

445.5293

 49

 234.3136

 45

 5.206969

 211.2157

 4

 52.80392

 10.14101

6.13308E−06

2.578739

 RMA

RTA

RC RCA

**Table 6.** ANOVA and one sample test for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes for Serbia in the period from 2006 to 2015.

 7.816

 .000

2.74800

12.326

 .000

5.09500

4.889

 .001

5.24400

 3.527

 .006

0.04200

 df

 MS

*F*

*p*-value

*F* crit

 RXA

 4.909

 .001

**Indexes**

 **t (Dt = 9)**

**Sig. (2-tailed)**

 **Mean**  **difference**

16 Honey Analysis

5.28300

**Table 7.** Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs) test of correlation indexes for Serbia.


**Table 8.** Descriptive statistics for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes of exports of honey from Romania in the period 2006–2015.

In a study of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Romania, we applied five indexes: relative advantages of export, relative import advantage, relative trade advantage, the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index, as for Serbia. **Table 8** shows the indexes for all analysed years. The research found a positive comparative advantage of all five indices. Empirical research results of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Romania in the period 2006–2015 are shown in **Table 8**.

Results of the research of comparative advantage of honey exports from Romania show that all the five indexes reached positive values (**Table 9**). The highest level has been achieved with relative export advantage, which caused a high positive trade advantage. Relative import advantage has very low, however positive value, which points to the presence of small quantities in imports. We have concluded that Serbia and Romania have similar export structure regarding the honey exports, which points to high values in comparative advantage. Analysis of variance in the case of Romania shows the following: empirical *F* value is 74.51792 and *p* = 2.91E−19, indicating that differences between groups are statistically significant, systematic.

By using Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs ) test of correlation, we have proved the existence of correlation between 10 paired samples (**Table 10**). For Romania, we have six pairs with strong correlation with *p*-value below .01 so we can conclude that correlation exists and the variables covariate.


**Table 9.** ANOVA and one sample test for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes for Romanian the period from 2006 to 2015.


In a study of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Romania, we applied five indexes: relative advantages of export, relative import advantage, relative trade advantage, the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index, as for Serbia. **Table 8** shows the indexes for all analysed years. The research found a positive comparative advantage of all five indices. Empirical research results of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Romania in the

**Table 8.** Descriptive statistics for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes of exports of honey from Romania in the period

**N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. deviation Variance**

RXA 10 5.26 10.12 7.4340 1.53225 2.348 RMA 10 .05 .87 .4690 .27111 .073 RTA 10 4.63 9.84 6.9660 1.65515 2.740 RC 10 1.97 5.30 3.0000 .98958 .979 RCA 10 1.50 3.08 2.0330 .47070 .222

Results of the research of comparative advantage of honey exports from Romania show that all the five indexes reached positive values (**Table 9**). The highest level has been achieved with relative export advantage, which caused a high positive trade advantage. Relative import advantage has very low, however positive value, which points to the presence of small quantities in imports. We have concluded that Serbia and Romania have similar export structure regarding the honey exports, which points to high values in comparative advantage. Analysis of variance in the case of Romania shows the following: empirical *F* value is 74.51792 and *p* = 2.91E−19, indicating that differences between groups are statistically significant, systematic.

lation between 10 paired samples (**Table 10**). For Romania, we have six pairs with strong correlation with *p*-value below .01 so we can conclude that correlation exists and the variables covariate.

SS Df MS *F p*-value *F* crit RXA 15.342 .000 7.43400

379.2464 4 94.8116 74.51792 2.91E−19 2.578739 RMA 5.471 .000 .46900

57.25498 45 1.272333 RTA 13.309 .000 6.96600

Total 436.5014 49 RC 9.587 .000 3.00000

**Table 9.** ANOVA and one sample test for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes for Romanian the period from 2006

**ANOVA Indexes** *t* **(Dt = 9) Sig.** 

) test of correlation, we have proved the existence of corre-

**(2-tailed)**

RCA 13.658 .000 2.03300

**Mean difference**

period 2006–2015 are shown in **Table 8**.

Source: ITC and calculation of the author.

2006–2015.

18 Honey Analysis

Between groups

Within groups

to 2015.

By using Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs

Production and Trade of Honey in Selected European Countries: Serbia, Romania and Italy http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66590 19

**Table 10.** Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs) test of correlation indexes for Romania.

One pair showed negative correlation, which points to the fact that the increase of imports, that is, relative import advantage has negative effects upon revealed competitiveness. Test of connection of the Balassa index using Spearman formula shows that there is a correlation in four pairs with *p*-value below .1, so we can conclude that correlation exists and that the variables covariate. There is also a negative correlation with relative import advantage and revealed competitiveness.

In a study of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Italy, we applied five indexes: relative advantages of export, relative import advantage, relative trade advantage, the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index, as for Serbia and Romania. **Table 11** shows the indexes for all analysed years. In our research, we have found positive average value for relative advantages of export and relative import advantage. Empirical research results of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Italy in the period 2006–2015 are shown in **Table 11**.

Results of the research of comparative advantage of honey exports from Italy show that positive values have been achieved in two indexes, that is, relative export and import advantage have positive average values (**Table 12**). As the relative import value grows, the level of relative trade openness, as well as the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index become negative. Analysis of variance in the case of Italy shows the following: empirical *F* value is 139.512 and *p* = 9.51E−25, indicating that differences between groups are statistically significant, systematic.


Source: ITC and calculation of the author.

**Table 11.** Descriptive statistics for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes of exports of honey from Italy in the period 2006–2015.


**Table 12.** ANOVA and one sample test for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes for Italy in the period from 2006 to 2015.


One pair showed negative correlation, which points to the fact that the increase of imports, that is, relative import advantage has negative effects upon revealed competitiveness. Test of connection of the Balassa index using Spearman formula shows that there is a correlation in four pairs with *p*-value below .1, so we can conclude that correlation exists and that the variables covariate. There is also a negative correlation with relative import advantage and revealed competitiveness. In a study of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Italy, we applied five indexes: relative advantages of export, relative import advantage, relative trade advantage, the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index, as for Serbia and Romania. **Table 11** shows the indexes for all analysed years. In our research, we have found positive average value for relative advantages of export and relative import advantage. Empirical research results of comparative advantage in exports of honey from Italy in the period 2006–2015 are shown in **Table 11**. Results of the research of comparative advantage of honey exports from Italy show that positive values have been achieved in two indexes, that is, relative export and import advantage have positive average values (**Table 12**). As the relative import value grows, the level of relative trade openness, as well as the revealed competitiveness and the Balassa index become negative. Analysis of variance in the case of Italy shows the following: empirical *F* value is 139.512 and *p* = 9.51E−25, indicating that differences between groups are statis-

**N Minimum Maximum Mean Std. deviation Variance**

**(2-tailed)**

RCA −8.201 .000 −.62600

**Mean difference**

RXA 10 .43 1.04 .6360 .19540 .038 RMA 10 .75 1.57 1.1880 .25354 .064 RTA 10 −.86 −.26 −.5520 .20460 .042 RC 10 −1.06 −.34 −.6450 .24451 .060 RCA 10 −1.06 −.26 −.6260 .24139 .058

**Table 11.** Descriptive statistics for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes of exports of honey from Italy in the period

SS Df MS *F p*-value *F* crit RXA 10.293 .000 .63600

29.28445 4 7.321112 139.5118 9.51E−25 2.578739 RMA 14.817 .000 1.18800

2.36145 45 0.052477 RTA −8.532 .000 −.55200

Total 31.6459 49      RC −8.342 .000 −.64500

**Table 12.** ANOVA and one sample test for RXA, RMA, RTA, RC and RCA indexes for Italy in the period from 2006 to

**ANOVA Indexes** *t* **(Dt = 9) Sig.** 

tically significant, systematic.

Source: ITC and calculation of the author.

2006–2015.

20 Honey Analysis

Between groups

Within groups

2015.

Production and Trade of Honey in Selected European Countries: Serbia, Romania and Italy http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66590 21

**Table 13.** Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs) test of correlation indexes for Italy.

By using Pearson (rp) and Spearman (rs ) test of correlation (**Table 13**), we have shown that for Italy we have six pairs with strong correlation, at the level of *p* < .01 and .05 so we can conclude that the correlation exists and variables covariate. One pair showed negative correlation, which points to the fact that the increase in imports, that is, relative import advantage has negative effects upon revealed competitiveness. Test of connection of the Balassa index using Spearman formula shows that there is a correlation in five pairs with *p* < .01 and .05, so we can conclude that correlation exists and that the variables covariate. There is also a negative correlation with relative import advantage and revealed competitiveness (RC).

In our further research, we wanted to determine the value of importance of the difference between the comparative advantage indexes (RCA) for all three countries (**Table 14**). The variance analysis shows the following: the empirical *F* value is 62.554 and *p* = 7.32E−11, which points to the fact that differences between the groups are statistically significant.


**Table 14.** ANOVA test RCA index for Serbia, Romania and Italy.

Results of further analysis show that there is statistically significant difference between the levels of comparative advantage of exports between Serbia and Italy and Romania and Italy (**Table 15**). If we consider that Serbia and Romania are producing surplus in international honey trade, while for Italy, imports are more important, then the empirical results prove the absence of the comparative advantage in honey exports in Italy.


**Table 15.** Paired samples test RCA index for Serbia, Romania and Italy.
