ABSTRACT
This chapter provides general factual information on some of the significant trends in the bicycle market prior to the presentation of the results of the authors’ field work and statistical analysis. Cycle production is relatively simple to organize in the under-developed nations and in the post-war period there has been a rise in the proportion of bicycle production outside the main industrial countries with a consequent effect on the United Kingdom's (UK) cycle exports. All the statistically significant coefficients for the pressure variable suggested an inverse relationship between the pressure of domestic demand and variations in either the level of exports to a market or import share. An econometric analysis of the UK bicycle industry provides a considerable amount of support for the pressure hypothesis. Moreover, the results of the econometric analysis of the industry appear to differ from the relationship at the firm level as indicated by our questionnaire and interviewing results.
