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Distance, Language, Religion, and the Law of One Price: Evidence from Canada and Nigeria

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  • DAVID FIELDING
  • CHRISTOPHER HAJZLER
  • JAMES MACGEE

Abstract

We examine the impact of physical distance, language, and religion on Law of One Price (LOP) deviations across interwar Canadian and modern Nigerian cities. The data comprise monthly average retail prices for narrowly defined goods collected by national statistical agencies. We find that differences in the fraction of the city population sharing a common language and religion have a significant impact on LOP deviations. The impact of language differences is consistent with a recently developed theory in which both trade costs and differences in signal–noise ratios contribute to LOP deviations.

Suggested Citation

  • David Fielding & Christopher Hajzler & James Macgee, 2015. "Distance, Language, Religion, and the Law of One Price: Evidence from Canada and Nigeria," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(5), pages 1007-1029, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jmoncb:v:47:y:2015:i:5:p:1007-1029
    DOI: 10.1111/jmcb.12233
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kitenge, Erick M. & Morshed, A.K.M. Mahbub, 2019. "Price convergence among Indian cities: The role of linguistic differences, topography, and aggregation," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 34-50.
    3. Saileshsingh Gunessee & Cheng Zhang, 2022. "The economics of domestic market integration," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1069-1095, September.
    4. Erick Kitenge & Sajal Lahiri, 2022. "Is the Internet bringing down language‐based barriers to international trade?," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 566-605, May.

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