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How important are non-tariff barriers? Complementarity of infrastructure and institutions of trading partners

Author

Listed:
  • Zsoka Koczan

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Alexander Plekhanov

    (EBRD)

Abstract

The paper provides an empirical analysis of the importance of infrastructure for bilateral trade flows using an augmented gravity model of trade. The estimates suggest that potential gains from improvements in infrastructure are large and far exceed the effects of lowering tariff barriers. Moreover, the effect of improving hard infrastructure on trade flows in a particular country increases with the quality of infrastructure of trading partners. Similar complementarity is observed for control of corruption, with a large asymmetry of effects, where institutions in the destination market seem to be considerably more important.

Suggested Citation

  • Zsoka Koczan & Alexander Plekhanov, 2013. "How important are non-tariff barriers? Complementarity of infrastructure and institutions of trading partners," Working Papers 159, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Office of the Chief Economist.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebd:wpaper:159
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jorge García García & María Mercedes Collazos & Enrique Montes Uribe, 2015. "Las instituciones en el sector externo colombiano: ¿Apoyo o escollo al comercio?," Borradores de Economia 12995, Banco de la Republica.
    2. Xu, Hangtian, 2016. "Domestic railroad infrastructure and exports: Evidence from the Silk Route," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 129-147.
    3. Adiya Belgibayeva & Alexander Plekhanov, 2019. "Does corruption matter for sources of foreign direct investment?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 155(3), pages 487-510, August.
    4. Getachew Magnar Kitila & Fuzhong Chen, 2021. "Multilateral Trade Resistance, International Competitiveness and African International Exports: A Network Perspective," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 5(10), pages 111-126.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    infrastructure; imports; exports; tariffs; regional integration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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