EU Enlargement: Expanding the Union and Its Potential

Intereconomics - The new EU member candidates, as well as those who have had this status for a decade, present the Union with an opportunity to decide what kind of club it should be.     

The Pure Effects of European Integration on Intra‐EU Core and Periphery Trade

This paper analyses the effects of EU integration on intra‐EU trade volumes with a special focus on the evolution of trade within and between the core and the periphery countries. In the early phases of EU integration, there have been sizable trade creation and diversion effects with respect to EFTA countries. Both the creation and the diversion effects of EU membership have declined as the EU and EFTA have integrated. In all phases of EU integration, both core–periphery and intraperiphery growth of trade have experienced stronger positive effects than intracore trade. Hence, the EU enlargements did not cause any kind of intra‐EU ‘peripherality’.     

Integration of Refugees: Lessons from Bosnians in Five EU Countries

In this study, we reviewed the integration experience of Bosnian refugees displaced during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. We compare reception conditions among the five Western European countries that played host to the majority of refugees at the time and track their labour market experience as well as, to the extent possible, education outcomes of second generation Bosnians.     

中国服务贸易潜力——基于引力模型的测算

国外使用引力模型研究服务贸易始于2002年,国内研究则起步稍晚,至2009年方有学者致力于此类研究。从使用数据和实证模型两方面看,现有研究都有可进一步拓展的潜力。本文基于引力模型对服务贸易的决定因素进行识别与测算。本文在实证部分采用了基本引力模型,使用4种计量方法。结果显示:贸易双方经济规模、经济发展水平、物理距离和自由贸易区对总服务贸易额和分部门贸易额的影响表现出不同的显著性。     

The Gravity Model and Trade Efficiency: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis of Eastern European Countries' Potential Trade

The opening up process of the eastern European countries is characterised by an increasing degree of trade integration with their Western neighbouring countries. Typically, the degree of East–West trade integration is assessed by comparing actual trade volumes with potential trade volumes projected from the gravity model parameters estimated for a group of countries that best represent normal trade relations. This approach, however, does not compare trade levels against a maximum level of trade feasible for the group of eastern European countries. This paper using a stochastic frontier specification of the gravity model is able to identify the efficiency of trade integration relative to maximum potential levels. The findings, based on a panel data set of bilateral exports from 17 Western European countries to the 10 new member states over the 1994–2007 period, indicate a high degree of East–West trade integration close to two‐thirds of frontier estimates, suggesting a low degree of trade resistances.     

应用引力模型评判海峡两岸贸易流量和潜力

运用扩展后的贸易引力模型检验了祖国大陆和台湾地区之间的贸易流量和流向,并以此为依据具体考量了内地各省市与台湾地区的贸易联系程度.结果显示:内地各省市的经济规模和人均收入水平、空间距离、台商投资和特殊的经济协作关系是决定内地各省市与台湾地区贸易流量的主要因素.应积极强化有利因素,弱化不利因素来挖掘海峡两岸的贸易潜力.     

Enlargement and the EU Periphery: The Impact of Changing Market Potential

We study the impact of changing relative market access in an enlarged EU on the economies of incumbent Objective 1 regions. First, we track the impact of external opening on internal spatial configurations in a three‐region economic geography model. External opening gives rise to potentially offsetting economic forces, but for most parameter configurations it is found to raise the locational attractiveness of the region that is close to the external market. Then, we explore the relation between market access and economic activity empirically. We simulate the impact of enlargement on EU Objective 1 regions. Predicted market‐access‐induced gains in regional GDP and manufacturing employment are up to seven times larger in regions proximate to the new accession countries than in ‘interior’ EU regions. We also find that a future Balkans enlargement could be particularly effective in reducing economic inequalities among the EU periphery, due to the positive impact on relative market access of Greek regions.     

Regional Integration and Trade: Controlling for Varying Degrees of Heterogeneity in the Gravity Model

The proliferation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) in the 1990s prompted a renewal of interest in studying the effect of regional integration on trade. Using a panel dataset of bilateral export flows from 12 EU countries to 20 OECD trading partners over the period 1992–2003, the trade effect of European regional integration, denoted by an EU dummy, is examined across a number of fixed effects (FE) specifications, each of which has been claimed as the correct econometric specification of the gravity model. Typically parsimonious in (time‐varying) economic variables and abundant in fixed effects, the FE specifications allow for varying degrees of heterogeneity in the gravity model. Two gravity models are estimated: a gravity model of traditional trade determinants and a gravity model of new trade theory (NTT) determinants. Both gravity models provide reasonable coefficient estimates, although they vary somewhat across the FE specifications for the traditional gravity model. Both gravity models are congruent in suggesting that the coefficient of the EU dummy declines in magnitude and becomes insignificant as an increasing degree of heterogeneity is admitted into the model. This suggests the fundamental importance of the econometric specification when evaluating trade policy effects within a gravity framework.     

Assessing Trade Potential in Agricultural Sector of Iran: Application of Gravity Model

This article attempts to assess Iran's trade potential, explore over- and under-trade countries and determine factors affecting export development by using the gravity model. Seventy countries, which are considered the major markets for Iran agricultural products, are divided into 50 developing and 20 developed ones. By using panel data during the period when the export premium was submitted (2002–2005), Iran's agricultural exports were predicted. For this purpose, equations for each group of countries regressed by applying the augmented gravity model. Finally, the results were compared with actual figures. The results showed that Iran was more over-traded with developing countries relative to developed ones. This analysis helps us to determine the proper commercial direction, assess trade potential capacity and explore effective factors on export development such as export premium. Therefore, trade flows can be improved with under-trade countries and will be supported with over-trade ones through proper policies.     

Innocent or Not‐so‐innocent Bystanders: Evidence from the Gravity Model of International Trade About the Effects of UN Sanctions on Neighbour Countries

This paper examines two hypotheses about the effects of UN sanctions on trade flows between land neighbours of the target country and the rest of the world. First, there have been claims that sanctions hurt neighbour countries by cutting off trading routes, increasing transportation costs and disrupting established trading ties. We would expect that a neighbour's trade with the rest of the world would fall, as a result. Second, there is extensive evidence that neighbours have been involved in smuggling. Consequently, neighbours should trade more with the rest of the world during UN trade embargoes, because now they also trade on behalf of the target. I employ the gravity model of international trade to show that, overall, a neighbour's trade with the rest of the world tends to fall during UN sanctions episodes. This confirms the first hypothesis above: on a net basis, land neighbours have been ‘innocent bystanders’ hit by UN sanctions.     

基于引力模型的产业内贸易与区域经济一体化研究

产业内贸易和区域经济一体化是当今国际贸易领域关注的重大理论和实践问题,在新贸易理论中,两者在共同因素的作用下被有机地联系起来。本文结合产业内贸易与新区域经济一体化理论,运用贸易引力模型,对两者之间的关系做计量检验,进而为我国区域经济一体化进程和产业内贸易发展提供相关的政策建议。     

中国—非洲农产品贸易的决定因素与潜力——基于引力模型的实证研究

中国与非洲农业在资源、市场和技术方面具有很强的互补性,经过50年的发展,中非农业合作取得了很大的成绩,双方农产品贸易发展迅速,而且具有很大的潜力。文章系统分析了影响中非农产品贸易的主要因素,运用引力模型验证了距离、人口、经济规模以及政策等因素对双边农产品贸易的不同影响,指出中国与非洲农产品贸易符合林德定理,双方需求与产品越相似,则潜在的贸易量越大,并基于引力模型估计了双方农产品贸易的潜力和合作重点。     

Trade and Financial Integration in East Asia: Effects on Co‐movements

In this paper we explore three important areas where deeper trade and financial integration in East Asia can influence: (1) business cycle co‐movements in the region, (2) the extent of risk sharing across countries and (3) price co‐movements across countries. We find evidence that trade integration enhances co‐movements of output but not of consumption across countries. Especially the fact that trade integration does not raise co‐movements of consumption as much as that of output is interpreted as trade integration does not improve the extent of risk sharing. Co‐movements of price arise most significantly as trade integration deepens, lowering the border effects and allowing better opportunities for resource reallocation across countries. In contrast, financial integration demonstrates much weaker evidence of enhancing co‐movements across countries. Deeper financial integration improves price co‐movements weakly but does not enhance output or consumption co‐movements at all. However, since the current level of financial integration in East Asia is quite low, our evidence is too early to firmly determine the role of financial integration.     

中国水产品出口贸易的影响因素及潜力测度——基于扩展引力模型的分析

改革开放以来,我国水产品出口贸易发展迅速.利用2000年～2011年的面板数据,从出口总量、出口市场以及出口结构三个方面对我国水产品出口现状进行简要分析,并在此基础上运用扩展引力模型对影响因素进行实证分析.在此基础上提出应采取措施,在保留传统水产品出口市场的同时,抓住时机开发新兴的水产品出口市场.     

The Gravity Model Analysis of Bangladesh's Trade: A Panel Data Approach

The article applies generalized gravity models to analyze Bangladesh's bilateral trade pattern using the panel data estimation technique. The results reveal that Bangladesh's trade is positively determined by the size of the economies, per capita gross domestic product differential and openness of the trading countries. Bangladesh's exports are positively determined by its income, partner countries' total import demand and openness, but negatively determined by partner countries' income and domestic inflation. Bangladesh's imports are positively determined by income of trading countries and degree of openness of the partner countries and negatively determined by partner countries' inflation. Transportation costs affect Bangladesh's trade negatively.     

我国农机产品出口贸易流量及潜力——基于引力模型的实证分析

本文利用66个我国农机产品出口目标国2003-2012年的面板数据,构建了我国农机产品出口贸易引力模型,对农机产品出口贸易流量的影响因素和潜力进行了研究。结果表明:我国农机产品产值、进口国农业产值、进口国人均GDP、优惠贸易制度安排、共同边界和进口国环海是促进我国农机产品出口的主要因素,而地理距离和进口国劳均耕地面积是主要限制因素;从出口总量来看,我国农机产品出口仍然具有一定的发展潜力。最后,基于研究结论提出了大力发展农机工业、实施农业技术"走出去"战略和积极参与贸易规则制定等促进农机产品出口的政策措施。     

EMU and Trade Revisited: Long‐Run Evidence Using Gravity Equations

In this paper, we present evidence of the long‐run effect of the euro on trade for the twelve initial EMU countries for the period 1967–2008 from a double perspective. First, we pool all the bilateral combinations of trade flows among the EMU countries in a panel cointegration gravity specification. Second, we estimate a gravity equation for each of the EMU members vis‐à‐vis the other eleven partners. We apply panel cointegration techniques based on factor models that account for cross‐dependence and structural breaks. Whereas the joint gravity equation provides evidence on the aggregate effect of the euro on intra‐European trade, by isolating the individual countries, we assess which of the member countries have obtained a larger benefit from the euro. The results show that the euro has had a positive though small effect on trade. Belgium and Luxembourg, France and Italy are the countries more benefited from the introduction of the euro. The effects for exports to third countries are in general more moderate, and, with the exception of Greece, there is no evidence of diversion effects.