The specialization patterns of metropolitan areas are crucial in characterizing the effects of economic integration in Europe. This paper aims to provide and estimate an econometric model that explains both sectoral specialization and sectoral dissimilarity, measured with the GINI and the...

The study is motivated by the observation that a striking convergence of real wages has taken place, among many countries now in the OECD. What drives this phenomenal convergence, and is the experience unique in recorded economic history? In order to quantify the process, we explore a novel...