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What gains and distributional implications result from trade liberalization? Does aggregate demand matter?

  • Maria Bas
  • , Caroline Paunov

Research output: Working paper / PreprintWorking paper

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Abstract

This paper investigates the distributional impacts of trade liberalization across firms, consumers and workers. Using firm-product-level census data for Ecuador, we exploit exogenous tariff changes at entry to the World Trade Organization. We show that with input tariff cuts firms access higher quality and new input varieties. Consequently, firms increase their product scope and quality, while their production’s skill-intensity increases and costs decrease. “Real” productivity (TFPQ) increases only in the medium run, following adjustments to produce more and higher quality products. Positive immediate revenue productivity (TFPR) gains result because firms’ markups increase. Consumers still gain as quality-adjusted prices
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationMaastricht
PublisherUNU-MERIT
Publication statusPublished - 13 Feb 2019

Publication series

SeriesUNU-MERIT Working Papers
Number003
ISSN1871-9872

JEL classifications

  • d22 - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
  • f16 - Trade and Labor Market Interactions
  • l60 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing: General
  • o12 - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
  • o30 - "Technological Change; Research and Development; Intellectual Property Rights: General"
  • o54 - "Economywide Country Studies: Latin America; Caribbean"

Keywords

  • gains from trade
  • input and output tariff reductions
  • product scope
  • product quality
  • market share
  • quantity and revenue total factor productivity
  • TFPQ
  • TFPR
  • skills premium
  • Ecuador

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