European integration, as an approximation of globalisation: a statistical analysis based on stratified entropy indexes of concentration

Abstract

The paper tries to document the process of economic concentration at EU level and demonstrate that it could be seen as an approximation of globalisation. The phenomenon of economic concentration across the EU countries is highlighted by calculating entropy indexes of concentration for several layers (local and regional, regional and national, national and European), two by two, in a successive manner. By using Eurostat data, the values of entropy indexes document an increase of economic concentration from layer to layer, local to regional, regional to national and national to European level and suggest that the European economy could be seen as a globalized and stratified one, built from several economic layers and based on an increasing economic concentration from lower to higher layer.

Keywords

• economic concentration
• globalisation
• European integration