This paper compares the degree of openness to trade of three developed countries markets-the European Union, Japan, the United States-with that of three middle-income countries, namely Brazil, India, and China. A theoretically consistent protection measure - the Mercantilistic Trade...

This paper assesses the quantitative importance of including sectoral heterogeneity in computing the gains from trade. Our framework draws from Caliendo and Parro (2015) and Alvarez and Lucas (2007) and has sectoral heterogeneity along five dimensions, including the elasticity of trade to trade...

In the modern world, most of the trade between countries is carried out within Global Value Chains (GVCs), which have become a strong driver of global economic growth. Also, not all countries are sufficiently penetrated into these chains and can benefit from integration there. Most developing...

We examine the differential effects of financial status and exporting activity on the likelihood of survival for firms in the UK and France - two countries with different financial systems. We aim to answer two main questions: What is the direct impact of financial characteristics and different...

Many contemporary theoretic studies of trade over geography reduce to an ex- amination of constant-elasticity reactions to changes in iceberg trade costs. These impacts are readily analyzed in simple constant-returns models based on the Arm- ington (1969) assumption of regionally differentiated...

Rose & Spiegel (2011) find that Olympic Games host countries experience significant positive, lasting effects on exports. They interpret their results as an indication that countries use the hosting of such events to signal openness and competitiveness. We challenge these empirical findings on...

While the relationship between international trade and domestic economic activity is an important topic in economics, research in this area has been slowed due to data limitations. In this paper we provide tools that improve the existing data in two ways. First, we develop an algorithm that...

In recent years, Spain has received unprecedented immigration flows. Between 2001 and 2006 the fraction of the population born abroad more than doubled, increasing from 4.8% to 10.8%. For Spanish provinces with above-median inflows (relative to population), immigration increased by 24% the...

Over the past three decades, the price of machinery and equipment fell dramatically relative to other prices in advanced and emerging market and developing economies. Using cross-country and sectoral data, we show that the decline in the relative price of tangible tradable capital goods provided...

For the fifth year in a row Eastern Europe and Central Asia led the world in Doing Business reforms. Twenty-six of the region's 28 economies implemented a total of 69 reforms. Since 2004 Doing Business has been tracking reforms aimed at simplifying business regulations, strengthening property...