Discussion Paper
No. 2014-30 | July 10, 2014
Oleksandr Lugovskyy and Alexandre Skiba
Effect of Distance on Trade under Slope Heterogeneity and Cross-Correlated Effects
(Published in Distance and Border Effects in Economics)

Abstract

The authors argue that endogeneity of transportation costs needs to be taken into account when estimating the effect of distance on trade. Otherwise, the estimates of the distance effect may be biased and inconsistent. Endogenous transportation can introduce slope heterogeneity and spatial correlation. Both issues can be accommodated with the help of Pesaran’s cross-correlated effects mean-group (CCEMG) estimator. After applying this methodology, the authors uncover significant compression of the distance effect on trade starting from the middle of the 1990s. The trade-reducing effect of long distances becomes statistically indistinguishable from the effect of moderate distances. This compression is not present in the traditional fixed effects estimates. The authors hypothesize that such pattern may be reconciled by changes in shipping technology that disproportionately reduce transportation costs over long distances.

JEL Classification:

F1, F6, R4

Cite As

Oleksandr Lugovskyy and Alexandre Skiba (2014). Effect of Distance on Trade under Slope Heterogeneity and Cross-Correlated Effects. Economics Discussion Papers, No 2014-30, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2014-30


Comments and Questions



Anonymous - Invited Reader Comment 1
July 29, 2014 - 12:42
See attached file

Anonymous - Referee Report 1
September 02, 2014 - 11:14
see attached file

Anonymous - Referee Report 2
September 02, 2014 - 11:17
see attached file

Anonymous - comments
September 30, 2014 - 08:26
Please find my comments on "Effect of Distance on Trade under Slope Heterogeneity and Cross-Correlated Effects" by Oleksandr Lugovskyy and Alexandre Skiba In my view this paper is an interesting contribution to the literature on the estimation of gravity models. The paper is well written and comes up with interesting and relevant conclusions. Maybe the authors can elaborate on some issues mentioned in my report.