Bilateral Trade Imbalances

Alejandro Cunat, Robert Zymek

Research output: Working paperDiscussion paper

Abstract / Description of output

Bilateral trade imbalances are determined by aggregate trade imbalances, production and expenditure patterns, and trade barriers. We calibrate a dynamic many-sector trade model to match the recent sectoral trade and production shares of 40 economies and the rest of the world. Through a variance decomposition and counterfactuals, the model allows us to assess the relative importance of these determinants for the observed variation in bilateral imbalances. Large pairwise asymmetries in residual trade “wedges” are needed for the model to match the data. These account for roughly 60% of the variation, with most of the rest due to differences in production and expenditure patterns. Aggregate trade imbalances play a minor role. A counterfactual trade policy which eliminates trade-wedge asymmetries would have sizeable effects on bilateral trade patterns and welfare. However, it would leave aggregate trade balances virtually unchanged.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherEdinburgh School of Economics Discussion Paper Series
Number of pages46
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2019

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • trade imbalances
  • trade wedges
  • gravity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Bilateral Trade Imbalances'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this