Trade and location: A moving example motivated by Japan

If trade costs matter for trade, and if distance matters for at least some trade costs, then location matters for trade. This may be especially important for Japan, given its distance from other developed countries and proximity to a number of developing countries. In this paper I explore the relationship between location and trade in a simple partial equilibrium model of a single homogeneous good that may be produced and traded by three countries located on a plane. Six equilibrium regimes arise in this model, depending on trade costs compared to differences in autarky prices. These range from complete autarky in which no country trades, through partial autarky in which only two of the three countries trade, to either of two integrated equilibria in which either two countries export to the third, or (a different) two countries import from the third. I first identify these regimes in terms of the parameter values, including trade costs, that are needed for their occurrence. I then map them on the plane where the three countries are located. Results include the following: For a country whose autarky price lies between those of the other countries, whether it will export or import the good depends on its proximity to the other countries. It will export the good if it is close to the high-cost country, import it if it is close to the low-cost country, and not trade it at all if it is too far from both. The location of such a country is also important for the trade of the other countries. For example, the lowest cost country may not be able to trade at all if the intermediate-cost country, by virtue of its location, takes away the market of the high-cost country. Finally, although a fall in trade costs increases, up to a point, the geographic scope for a country to trade, beyond that point it cannot make trade possible for an intermediate-cost country that is too remote to trade. I apply this model in a very stylized way to the position of Japan, noted above. It suggest(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)