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Can Price Dispersion Reveal Distance-Related Trade Costs? Evidence from the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Michael A. Anderson

    (Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA 24450, USA)

  • Kurt C. Schaefer

    (Department of Economics, Calvin College, 1740 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA)

  • Stephen L. S. Smith

    (Gordon College, Wenham, MA 01984, USA)

Abstract

We offer insights on how distance-related trade costs may best be inferred from price-dispersion measures. Using a simple spatial model of price dispersion, we argue that measures of price dispersion that are not spatially informed can mislead researchers into concluding that distance-related costs are small even when such costs are the major determinant of price dispersion. With intra-United States data on eleven goods, we find that distance-related costs are large and are indeed underestimated when inferred from standard, non-spatial, price dispersion measures. Our empirical findings have implications for studies of market integration policies (such as trade liberalization and currency unions) and the significance of economic geography.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael A. Anderson & Kurt C. Schaefer & Stephen L. S. Smith, 2013. "Can Price Dispersion Reveal Distance-Related Trade Costs? Evidence from the United States," Global Economy Journal (GEJ), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 13(2), pages 151-173, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:gejxxx:v:13:y:2013:i:02:n:gej-2012-0026
    DOI: 10.1515/GEJ-2012-0026
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    Cited by:

    1. Yazgan, M. Ege & Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2011. "Price-level convergence: New evidence from U.S. cities," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 110(2), pages 76-78, February.
    2. A. Nchake Mamello & Edwards Lawrence & N. Kaya Tresor, 2017. "Working Paper 272 - Price effects of borders between Lesotho and South Africa," Working Paper Series 2389, African Development Bank.
    3. Crucini, Mario J. & Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2014. "Understanding long-run price dispersion," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 226-240.
    4. Neil Balchin & Lawrence Edwards & Asha Sundaram, 2015. "A Disaggregated Analysis of Product Price Integration in the Southern African Development Community," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 24(3), pages 390-415.
    5. Felix Akinlade Babatola & Oluwatoyin Odunayo Fabiyi & Ayodeji Sikiru Animasaun, 2023. "Marketing Strategies and Sales Performance of Non-Durable Product During and After Covid 19 Pandemic in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(11), pages 1968-1979, November.
    6. Mamello A Nchake & Lawrence Edwards & Tresor N Kaya, 2019. "The Size of the Border and Product Market Integration Between Lesotho and South Africa: A Production–Consumption Approach," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 28(1), pages 70-88.
    7. Nchake, Mamello A. & Edwards, Lawrence & Rankin, Neil, 2018. "Closer monetary union and product market integration in emerging economies: Evidence from the Common Monetary Area in Southern Africa," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 154-164.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    spatial models; price dispersion; economic integration; trade costs; E31; F36; F41;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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