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International Trade Efficiency, the Gravity Equation, and the Stochastic Frontier

Author

Listed:
  • Heejoon Kang

    (Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University Kelley School of Business)

  • Michele Fratianni

    (Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University Kelley School of Business)

Abstract

In the gravity equation of international trade, bilateral trade flows are regressed on trading partners’ income and the distance that separates them along with other variables. This widely used equation is traditionally estimated by the ordinary least squares method. We employ an alternative technique of stochastic frontier estimation to assess the potential bilateral trade flows from the same gravity equation. Countries are shown to have low efficiencies in their international trade as the predicted trade from frontier estimation is generally far greater than actual trade. Trade efficiencies are computed and ranked for individual countries, ten geographical regions, and eleven regional trade agreements.

Suggested Citation

  • Heejoon Kang & Michele Fratianni, 2006. "International Trade Efficiency, the Gravity Equation, and the Stochastic Frontier," Working Papers 2006-08, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:iuk:wpaper:2006-08
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sheng, Yu & Wu, Yanrui & Shi, Xunpeng & Zhang, Dandan, 2015. "Energy trade efficiency and its determinants: A Malmquist index approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 306-314.
    3. Memduh Alper Demir & Mustafa Bilik & Utku Utkulu, 2017. "The Impact of Competitiveness on Trade Efficiency: The Asian Experience by Using the Stochastic Frontier Gravity Model," Eurasian Journal of Economics and Finance, Eurasian Publications, vol. 5(4), pages 1-15.
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    5. Farha Fatema & Mohammad Monirul Islam, 2020. "Driving Forces of Marine Fisheries and Seafood Export of Bangladesh: Augmented Gravity Model Approach," Asian Journal of Economic Modelling, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 8(2), pages 106-122, June.
    6. Shiro Patrick Armstrong, 2015. "East and South Asia: Managing Difficult Bilateral Relations and Regional Integration Globally," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 29(4), pages 303-324, December.
    7. Yazdani, Mehdi & Pirpour, Hamed, 2020. "Evaluating the effect of intra-industry trade on the bilateral trade productivity for petroleum products of Iran," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    8. Cemaleddin Gulenay & Ibrahim Guran Yumusak, 2023. "Analyzing Common Market Options in the Scope of OIC," International Econometric Review (IER), Econometric Research Association, vol. 15(2), pages 28-44, September.
    9. Yu SHENG & Yanrui WU & Xunpeng SHI & Dandan ZHANG, 2014. "Markket Integration and Energy Trade Efficiency: An Application of Malmqvist Index to Analyse Multi-Product Trade," Working Papers DP-2014-20, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    10. Tatsiana Dziavochka & Elyas Abdulahi Mohamued, 2020. "The Nexus of Chinese OFDI Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Europe: A True Fixed Effect Stochastic Analysis," Asian Economic and Financial Review, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 10(4), pages 399-414, April.
    11. Njike, Arnold, 2019. "Import processing zones, tools for regional integration? The case of the free trade zone of Manaus (Brazil)," MPRA Paper 97652, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Xu, Jiayue & Lu, Caiwu & Ruan, Shunling & Xiong, Neal N., 2022. "Estimating the efficiency and potential of China's steel products export to countries along the “Belt and Road” under interconnection: An application of extended stochastic frontier gravity model," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Rodolfo Metulini, 2013. "A structural analysis on Gravity of Trade regarding the possibility to remove distance from the model," ERSA conference papers ersa13p520, European Regional Science Association.
    14. Li, Yan & Chen, Zhenhua & Wang, Peng, 2020. "Impact of high-speed rail on urban economic efficiency in China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 220-231.
    15. Balogun, Emmanuel Dele, 2007. "Exchange rate policy and export performance of WAMZ countries," MPRA Paper 6233, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Deluna, Roperto Jr & Cruz, Edgardo, 2014. "Philippine Export Efficiency and Potential: An Application of Stochastic Frontier Gravity Model," MPRA Paper 53580, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Doanh Khanh Nguyen & Van Ngoc Thi Pham & Heo, Yoon, 2019. "Impact of institutional and cultural distance on ASEAN's trade efficiency," Economics Discussion Papers 2019-57, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    18. Domenico Gattuso & Gian Carla Cassone & Domenica Savia Pellicanò, 2022. "Assessment of freight traffic flows and harmful emissions in euro-mediterranean context: scenario analyses based on a gravity model," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-18, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    efficiency coefficients; OLS residuals; trade gravity; trade potentials;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General

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