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Evaluating Asian Free Trade Agreements: What Does Gravity Model Tell Us?

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  • Sunder Ramaswamy
  • Abishek Choutagunta
  • Santosh Kumar Sahu

Abstract

This paper evaluates the performance of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) by analysing the determinants of trade flows of Asian economies for a panel of 31 countries during 2007–2014 using a Gravity model. The estimated results suggest that certain FTAs negatively contribute to trade flows across the region and, that GDP and population, among other factors, can explain total trade flows. This study also finds that trade costs using distance as a proxy has a significant and negative effect on trade. Our results are in-line with the expectations which can be drawn by looking at trends of trade flows in Asia. Thus, a case is attempted for smoothening trade-flows across the region by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, pumping in investments on transport infrastructure and improving productivity of the partners as a whole which has positive effects on GDP and thus trade. JEL Codes: F13, F14, C23

Suggested Citation

  • Sunder Ramaswamy & Abishek Choutagunta & Santosh Kumar Sahu, 2021. "Evaluating Asian Free Trade Agreements: What Does Gravity Model Tell Us?," Foreign Trade Review, , vol. 56(1), pages 60-70, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:fortra:v:56:y:2021:i:1:p:60-70
    DOI: 10.1177/0015732520961330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anderson, Kym & Strutt, Anna, 2011. "Asia's Changing Role in World Trade: Prospects for South - South Trade Growth to 2030," ADB Economics Working Paper Series 264, Asian Development Bank.
    2. Andrew K. Rose, 2004. "Do We Really Know That the WTO Increases Trade?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(1), pages 98-114, March.
    3. Bhattacharyya Ranajoy & Banerjee, Tathagata, 2006. "Does the Gravity Model Explain India Direction of Trade? A Panel Data Approach," IIMA Working Papers WP2006-09-01, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
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    6. Baier, Scott L. & Bergstrand, Jeffrey H., 2007. "Do free trade agreements actually increase members' international trade?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 72-95, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sharadendu Sharma & Rahul Arora, 2023. "Macroeconomic Determinants of India’s Participation in Global Value Chains: An Empirical Evidence," Journal of Asian Economic Integration, , vol. 5(1), pages 7-28, April.
    2. Koffi Dumor & Yao Li & Ma Yongkai & Enock Mintah Ampaw & Hafez Komla Dumor, 2022. "Evaluating the belt and road initiative effects on trade and migration: Evidence from the East African community," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 34(1), pages 16-28, March.
    3. Christopher M. Dent, 2021. "Trade, Climate and Energy: A New Study on Climate Action through Free Trade Agreements," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-30, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International trade flows; gravity model; Asia; PPML;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models

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