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The Global Welfare Impact of China: Trade Integration and Technological Change

Author

Listed:
  • Julian di Giovanni

    (International Monetary Fund and University of Toronto)

  • Andrei A. Levchenko

    (University of Michigan and NBER)

  • Jing Zhang

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

This paper evaluates the global welfare impact of ChinaÕs trade integration and technological change in a quantitative Ricardian-Heckscher-Ohlin model implemented on 75 countries. We simulate two alternative productivity growth scenarios: a ÒbalancedÓ one in which ChinaÕs productivity grows at the same rate in each sector, and an ÒunbalancedÓ one in which ChinaÕs comparative disadvantage sectors catch up disproportionately faster to the world productivity frontier. Contrary to a well-known conjecture (Samuelson 2004), the large majority of countries in the sample, including the developed ones, experience an order of magnitude larger welfare gains when ChinaÕs productivity growth is biased towards its comparative disadvantage sectors. We demonstrate both analytically and quantitatively that this finding is driven by the inherently multilateral nature of world trade. As a separate but related exercise we quantify the worldwide welfare gains from ChinaÕs trade integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian di Giovanni & Andrei A. Levchenko & Jing Zhang, 2012. "The Global Welfare Impact of China: Trade Integration and Technological Change," Working Papers 625, Research Seminar in International Economics, University of Michigan.
    • Handle: RePEc:mie:wpaper:625
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; productivity growth; international trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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