We show that traditional gravity variables play a significant role in explaining trade flows related to global value chain participation. We find evidence that cooperation costs - measured by linguistic and geographical proximity - are more relevant for trade that reflects cross-border...

This paper presents a review of recent studies that estimate the trade effects of foreign aid. It also provides new results obtained using panel data techniques to estimate the direct effects of aid on international trade, accounting for countries' participation in free trade agreements, and the...

We estimate a gravity model to address the question of whether Africa`s bilateral trade with industrial countries is quot;unusualquot; compared with other developing country regions. Our main finding is that the unusually low level of African trade is explained by economic size, geographical...