Modeling Imports in a Keynesian Expenditure Model

The author discusses several issues that instructors of introductory macroeconomics courses should consider when introducing imports in the Keynesian expenditure model. The analysis suggests that the specification of the import function should partially, if not completely, be the result of a simple discussion about the spending and import behaviors of the household, firm, and government sectors. The analysis also indicates that instructors who use certain import functions that are in some introductory textbooks will inadvertently impose restrictions on the model and potentially confuse students. The author examines several implications of the specification proposed by Robert Cherry (2001) Cherry, R. 2001. The simple expenditure model with trade: How should we model imports?. Journal of Economic Education, 32: 53–57. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and shows how the restrictions imposed by Cherry's specification make it difficult for instructors to present certain types of economic events and policies. The import function discussed here avoids these restrictions and allows instructors to present more easily certain types of examples.     

What does the Chinese market need? An empirical study of the determinants of Chinese imports, 1996–2008

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the determinants of import demand in China through a multilevel approach. Using disaggregated data over 1996–2008 and a dynamic panel model, we find that the Chinese import market is predominantly characterized by quality competition. However, the nature of the competition varies across different industries. In line with theory, quality plays an important role in industries that are characterized by the potential for quality improvement and product differentiation, whereas price is key in industries in which quality and product differences are rather small. Moreover, private consumption expenditure is more influential than other categories of expenditures. Additionally, variables that can influence the relative price of import products, such as the exchange rate, tariffs and the domestic price index, also have an impact on import demand.     

中国企业贸易类型与国际贸易集中度的关系——基于中国制造业企业微观数据的实证研究

运用2005—2006年中国制造业企业的微观层面数据,将参与贸易的企业划分为4类,采用Gini系数和Theil系数研究企业贸易类型与国际贸易集中度的关系。研究结果表明:在制造业内,中国制造业企业的贸易活动相对集中于少数制造业细分子行业;在制造业细分子行业内,少数企业的进出口贸易额占总贸易额的大部分,只有少数企业有较多的出口目的地和进口来源地,并且企业的进口来源地更为集中。     

Tax competition with asymmetric market structures: The role of policy instruments*

We analyze the location choice of a multinational corporation (MNC) between two host countries with different market structures, i.e. the number of competing domestic firms in them. We consider the effects of import tariffs and lump-sum subsidies on the MNC's locational choice. Our findings include: (1) with lump-sum subsidy, the country with fewer firms always gets the MNC, (2) with tariffs, the country with more domestic firms gets the MNC when the export transportation cost is high and the domestic firms are sufficiently inefficient, while the country with fewer domestic firms wins the MNC when export transportation cost is low, and (3) the MNC location decision may crucially depend on which instrument is used to attract the MNC.     

Assessing Market Efficiency

Abstract

Government regulations through import licensing and “seasonal calendars” entail large transaction costs for traders operating in the fruit and vegetable wholesale market in Oman. Monitoring and enforcing these market regulations increase search costs and reduce market efficiency. The objective of this study is to develop a methodology to categorize and measure transactions costs by analyzing traders perceptions and attitude toward regulatory measures, and other market activities. Results show that importers operating at Al-Mawaleh market face the highest level of transaction costs. The changing nature of import calendar as well as the import license procedure represents significant elements of uncertainty that rise the importers' search and monitoring costs. It is suggested that the conversion of these non-tariff barriers into tariffs along WTO rules would reduce market uncertainty and increase market efficiency.     

贸易开放、不完全竞争与成本加成——基于中国制造业数据的实证分析

文章利用中国制造行业的面板数据,分析贸易开放对我国国内行业成本加成的影响。回归结果表明,市场竞争与国际贸易是影响我国制造行业成本加成的重要因素。进口贸易在高竞争性行业对成本加成具有正向的促进效应,而在低竞争性行业具有相反的效应;出口贸易对国内行业的成本加成具有显著的正向促进效应。     

外贸、外资与工业结构升级——基于中国数据的经验分析

通过建立VAR模型,对中国1985~2004工业结构、进口贸易、出口贸易和FDI之间的关系进行了协整分析,检验了工业结构与进口、出口、FDI之间的长期协整均衡关系和短期格兰杰因果关系,并刻画了脉冲响应函数(IRF)。结果显示,工业结构升级、出口依存度、进口依存度和FDI之间存在长期均衡关系,进口贸易和FDI对工业结构升级起到了促进作用,而出口贸易对工业结构升级存在负面影响。     

中国电子及通讯设备产品的进出口增长效应— — — 中国加入 WT O前后的比较

运用CMS模型分析加入WTO前后中国电子及通讯设备产品的进出口增长源泉及其变动,结果表明：1998--2001年和2002-2006年两个阶段中国电子及通讯设备产品的进出口增长源泉主要在于竞争力因素和需求因素,但竞争力因素对进口增长的贡献率在下降,需求因素对出口增长的贡献率也在下降,相比之下,其对进口增长的贡献率却在上升。结构因素对于进出口增长的贡献都很微弱甚至是起遏制作用。进出口效应表明中国的电子及通讯设备制造业的扩张是一种建立在廉价劳动力基础上的粗放式扩张,其发展内涵并没有得到真正的提升。     

实际有效汇率影响中国纺织品服装贸易的实证分析

纺织品服装是中国具有比较优势的大宗出口商品,在中国对外贸易中有重要的地位。文章运用最小二乘估计法,就人民币实际有效汇率对中国纺织品服装进出口贸易的影响进行了实证分析。结果表明,人民币实际有效汇率变动对中国纺织品服装进出口有显著影响,且其对进口的影响明显大于对出口的影响。另外,收入水平也是影响中国纺织品服装进出口的主要因素。