Based on data for eight OECD countries this paper empirically explores the factors driving exports in the automotive sector between 1991 and 2008. The factors considered explicitly account for possible lead market effects which have recently been identified in the literature as relevant factors...

The conceptual part of this paper ties the recently developed Lead Market concept to the international trade theory literature including neoclassical trade theory, new trade theory, neotechnological approaches and systems of innovation concepts. The empirical part explores the factors driving...