Stability Evaluation of Export and Production Comparative Advantage Indices of Iran's Dates

The agriculture sector of Iran has some special features. For example Iran is a great producer and exporter of dates but with little national gains of export earnings and drastic fluctuation. In order to find an answer for this strategic question، in this study various comparative advantage indices – namely RCA، RSCA، SAI، TEI and LQ were calculated for 1961-2005 period، and then their stabilities were evaluated by coefficient of variation. RCA، RSCA، Michaely، SAI and LQ indices indicated that we have relative advantage for most of years in Iran for dates. Also، there was no TEI advantage in all years. The results showed that RCA، RSCA، Michaely، TEI and LQ were the most stable indices during 2001-2005. Establishing policy strategies for maintaining stability of Iran’s date comparative advantages indices could improve the above mentioned product rank in the non-petroleum export basket.