Inequality and the import demand function
Abstract
In this paper we assess the empirical importance of changes in inequality on the demand for imports by examining panel data for 59 developing and developed countries for the 1970-1997 period. We find significant evidence supporting that inequality has a large influence on the demand for imports. Moreover we find that this influence is positive for high-income countries (countries that mainly produce and export high quality varieties of vertically differentiated products) and negative for low-income countries (countries that produce and export low-quality varieties of vertically differentiated products). These findings are explained by developing a model of trade in vertically differentiated products. Copyright 2012 Oxford University Press 2011 All rights reserved, Oxford University Press.Download Info
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Bibliographic Info
Article provided by Oxford University Press in its journal Oxford Economic Papers.
Volume (Year): 64 (2012)
Issue (Month): 4 (October)
Pages: 675-701
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Related research
Keywords:Other versions of this item:
- Antonis Adam & Margarita Katsimi & Thomas Moutos, 2008. "Inequality and the Import Demand Function," CESifo Working Paper Series 2196, CESifo Group Munich.
References
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