Comparative Advantages in International Trade of Services – a Focus on the European Union and Poland

This study examines comparative advantages in the context of international trade in services. Using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index, countries with comparative advantages in specific service groups across 28 EU countries were identified. The results are illustrated for each service category using gradient maps, allowing for the determination of sectoral specialization in individual countries. Subsequently, a detailed case study of Poland was conducted, additionally utilizing the Corrected Revealed Comparative Advantage (CRCA) index to assess the stability of its comparative advantages between 2010 and 2018. The study identifies labor-intensive sectors, such as production services, transport, construction, and repair and maintenance services, as key areas of Poland’s comparative advantage, stemming from lower labor costs compared to Western Europe.