EXPLORING THE ECONOMIC CONVERGENCE IN THE EU's NEW MEMBER STATES BY USING NON-PARAMETRIC MODELS

This paper analyzes the process of real economic convergence in the New Member States, by using non-parametric methods, e.g. the ash-warping test, kernel density estimation and stochastic kernel. The main findings of the paper are the bimodality of income density distribution over time and across countries, the lack of convergence at a single point in time and the presence of convergence clubs in the income distribution from 1995 to 2008. They suggest the lack of absolute convergence on long term (1995-2008), and also when looking only from 2003 onwards. The paper concludes that, in comparison with the parametrical approach, the non-parametric one gives a deeper, real and richer perspective on the process of real convergence in the NMS.