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Language and foreign trade

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Author Info
Melitz, Jacques

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Abstract

While language plays an important role in gravity models, there has been little attention to the channels through which a common language promotes bilateral trade. This work proposes separate series for a common language depending upon whether ease of communication facilitates trade through translation or the ability to communicate directly. The series related to direct communication is far more important in explaining bilateral trade, but the other series, based on translation, makes a distinct contribution as well. Either measure of a common language outperforms the measure in popular use, which is implicitly related to translation, and a combination of the two does far better. In addition, the paper examines the effect of two country-specific linguistic influences on trade: Literacy and linguistic diversity at home. Both of these influences promote foreign relative to domestic trade. Finally, the article studies the separate roles of English and network externalities.

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File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V64-4NXHCDY-5/1/7bcad10750224e8d86dd00cf3e9fe7ce
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Publisher Info
Article provided by Elsevier in its journal European Economic Review.

Volume (Year): 52 (2008)
Issue (Month): 4 (May)
Pages: 667-699
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Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:52:y:2008:i:4:p:667-699

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  1. Nicolas Sauter, . "Talking Trade: Language Barriers in Intra-Canadian Commerce," FIW Working Paper series 023, FIW. [Downloadable!]
  2. Andrew Rose, 2004. "A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Common Currencies on International Trade," NBER Working Papers 10373, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  3. Giorgio Fazio & Ronald MacDonald & Jacques Melitz, 2008. "Trade Costs, Trade Balances and Current Accounts: An Application of Gravity to Multilateral Trade," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 557-578, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  4. James E. Anderson & Eric van Wincoop, 2004. "Trade Costs," NBER Working Papers 10480, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  5. Disdier, Anne-Célia & Mayer, Thierry, 2005. "Je T'aime, Moi Non Plus: Bilateral Opinions and International Trade," CEPR Discussion Papers 4928, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. Tomáš Havránek, 2009. "Rose Effect and the Euro: The Magic is Gone," Working Papers IES 2009/20, Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Economic Studies, revised Aug 2009. [Downloadable!]
  7. Cardamone, Paola, 2007. "A survey of the assessments of the effectiveness of Preferential Trade Agreements using gravity models," Working Papers 7282, TRADEAG - Agricultural Trade Agreements. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
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