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Trade policy and productivity

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  • Badinger, Harald

Abstract

Previous studies on the determinants of productivity emphasized the role of trade and institutions but omitted trade policy due to endogeneity concerns. This paper considers the role of one important element of trade policy: free trade agreements (FTAs). Based on recent work on the determinants of FTAs, we suggest an instrument which is based on the propensity to enter an FTA due to (exogenous) geographical characteristics. We find that differences in institutional quality and trade, due to variations in geography and trade policy, have a sizeable effect on productivity and can explain the huge variation in per capita income across countries.

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  • Badinger, Harald, 2008. "Trade policy and productivity," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 867-891, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:52:y:2008:i:5:p:867-891
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    2. Robert C. Feenstra & David E. Weinstein, 2017. "Globalization, Markups, and US Welfare," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 125(4), pages 1040-1074.
    3. Martínez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada & Oueslati, Walid, 2016. "Are deep and comprehensive regional trade agreements helping to reduce air pollution?," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 292, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    4. Maria D. Tito & Ruoying Wang, 2021. "Misallocation in Open Economy," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2021-007, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    5. Philipp Imhof, 2021. "Switzerland's system of free trade agreements: Assessing the impact on imported goods," Aussenwirtschaft, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science, Swiss Institute for International Economics and Applied Economics Research, vol. 71(01), pages 35-72, December.
    6. Inmaculada Martinez-Zarzoso & Hendrik W. Kruse, 2019. "Are Labour Provisions in Free Trade Agreements Improving Labour Conditions?," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 30(5), pages 975-1003, November.
    7. Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso & Walid Oueslati, 2018. "Do deep and comprehensive regional trade agreements help in reducing air pollution?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 743-777, December.
    8. Geonwoo Park & Heon Joo Jung, 2020. "South Korea’s outward direct investment and its dyadic determinants: Foreign aid, bilateral treaty and economic diplomacy," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(12), pages 3296-3313, December.
    9. Robert Reed & Christina Lira & Lee Byung‐Ki & Junsoo Lee, 2016. "Free Trade Agreements and Foreign Direct Investment: The Role of Endogeneity and Dynamics," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 83(1), pages 176-201, July.
    10. Xuepeng Liu, 2016. "Trade Agreements and Economic Growth," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 82(4), pages 1374-1401, April.
    11. Baghdadi, Leila & Martinez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada & Zitouna, Habib, 2013. "Are RTA agreements with environmental provisions reducing emissions?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(2), pages 378-390.
    12. Scott L Baier & Jeffrey H Bergstrand & Matthew W Clance, 2017. "Heterogeneous economic integration agreements' effects, gravity, and welfare," Discussion Papers 2017-05, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    13. Baier, Scott L. & Bergstrand, Jeffrey H. & Clance, Matthew W., 2018. "Heterogeneous effects of economic integration agreements," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 587-608.
    14. Gianluca Salsecci & Antonio Pesce, 2008. "Long-term Growth Perspectives and Economic Convergence of CEE and SEE Countries," Transition Studies Review, Springer;Central Eastern European University Network (CEEUN), vol. 15(2), pages 225-239, September.
    15. Miron, Dumitru & Dima, Alina & Paun, Cristian, 2009. "A model for assessing Romania's real convergence based on distances and clusters methods," MPRA Paper 31410, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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