Using a three factor knowledge-capital model of trade and multinational activity, we consider a set of policy experiments to assess the welfare effects of trade and investment liberalization in general equilibrium. Specifically, we address the question of whether and under which circumstances a...

According to the World Investment Report 2004, the structure of Fmhas shifted towards services. Further, the composition of services FDI isalso changing from trade and finance to such industries as electricity, water ,telecommunications, storage and transportation. In the latter sector the...

In the presence of increasing specialization of workers it becomes more and more difficult for firms to find the most suitable workers. In such an environment a multinational corporation has an advantage because it can exchange workers between plants in different countries. In this way it can...

In a recent meta study, Disdier and Head (2008) summarize 103 empirical studies that find that the (absolute value of the) distance coefficient in a gravity estimation of bilateral exports does not fall over time. Including zero-trade flows is suggested as a solution to this "distance-puzzle"...

We analyse firms' sourcing decisions under institutional uncertainty in foreign countries. Firms can reduce their uncertainty by observing offshoring firms' behaviour. The model characterises a sequential offshoring equilibrium path, led by the most productive firms in the market. With multiple...

Despite the strong pace of globalization, the distance effect on trade is persistent or even growing over time (Disdier and Head, 2008). To solve this distance puzzle, we use the recently developed gravity equation estimator from Helpman, Melitz and Rubinstein (2008), HMR henceforth. Using three...

Mexico experienced a tremendous expansion of its export-processing maquila sector during the 1990s. At the same time, a large proportion of its labor force remains employed in the informal sector. Since one of the main objectives of the maquiladora program was to increase formal employment, we...

In the presence of increasing specialization of workers it becomes more and more difficult for firms to find the most suitable workers. In such an environment a multinational corporation has an advantage because it can exchange workers between plants in different countries. In this way it can...

Mexico experienced a tremendous expansion of its export-processing maquila sector during the 1990s. At the same time, a large proportion of its labor force remains employed in the informal sector. Since one of the main objectives of the maquiladora program was to increase formal employment, we...

According to the World Investment Report 2004, the structure of Fmhas shifted towards services. Further, the composition of services FDI isalso changing from trade and finance to such industries as electricity, water ,telecommunications, storage and transportation. In the latter sector the...