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Misallocation, Internal Trade, and the Role of Transportation Infrastructure

Author

Listed:
  • Roberto Ramos

    (Bank of Spain)

  • Manuel García-Santana

    (ECARES)

  • Jose Asturias

    (Georgetown University)

Abstract

We investigate the role of transportation infrastructure in explaining resource misallocation and income in India. We extend the endogenous variable markups model by Atkeson and Burstein (2008) into a multi-region setting in which asymmetric states trade with each other. High transportation costs that result from poor infrastructure quality generate misallocation of resources by increasing dispersion in market power across firms. Using a rich micro-level dataset constructed from manufacturing and geospatial data, we find preliminary evidence that is consistent with our theory. Using the construction of the Golden Quadrilateral as a natural experiment, we find that prices declined by 20% in districts crossed by this road. We calibrate the model and simulate an improvement in Indian road quality. We find the aggregate gains for improved road quality. We also decompose these gains into Ricardian and pro-competitive components.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Ramos & Manuel García-Santana & Jose Asturias, 2014. "Misallocation, Internal Trade, and the Role of Transportation Infrastructure," 2014 Meeting Papers 1035, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed014:1035
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    1. García-Santana, Manuel & Pijoan-Mas, Josep, 2014. "The reservation laws in India and the misallocation of production factors," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 193-209.
    2. Yan, Linnan & Tu, Menger & Chagas, André L.S. & Tai, Lufeng, 2022. "The impact of high-speed railway on labor spatial misallocation—Based on spatial difference-in-differences analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 82-97.
    3. Orea, Luis, 2018. "Infrastructure, resource allocation and productivity growth: a mutually consistent decomposition of inter and intra-industry productivity effects," Efficiency Series Papers 2018/05, University of Oviedo, Department of Economics, Oviedo Efficiency Group (OEG).
    4. Chen, Yang & Cheng, Liang & Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Chang-song, 2021. "The impact of regional banks on environmental pollution: Evidence from China's city commercial banks," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    5. Linnan Yan & Menger Tu & Andre Luis Squarize Chagas & Lufeng Tai, 2022. "The Impact of High-Speed Rail on Labor Spatial Misallocation– Based on Spatial Difference-in-Differences Analysis," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2022_19, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).
    6. Mao, Ning & Sun, Weizeng & Zhang, Liuqin, 2024. "The innovation effects of transportation infrastructure: Evidence from highways in China," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).

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