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Competitive effects of trade: theory and measurement

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  • Marc J. Melitz

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

In this paper, I develop a simple model of heterogeneous exporters to a single destination. This model highlights how the response of producer markups to market-level changes in that destination are intrinsically tied to the induced reallocation of export sales to that destination. I discuss how additional assumptions on the shape of demand (originally advocated by Alfred Marshall as his second law of demand) generate specific predictions for the response of those markups and induced product reallocations to increases in market size and competition in a destination: markups fall and market shares are reallocated towards better performing products. Recent evidence on French multi-product exporters strongly confirms this prediction for market share reallocations. The predictions for the markup responses are also consistent with the findings of the large empirical literature on pricing to market and incomplete pass-through.

Suggested Citation

  • Marc J. Melitz, 2018. "Competitive effects of trade: theory and measurement," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 154(1), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:154:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10290-017-0303-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-017-0303-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thierry Mayer & Marc J. Melitz & Gianmarco I. P. Ottaviano, 2021. "Product Mix and Firm Productivity Responses to Trade Competition," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 103(5), pages 874-891, December.
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    8. Hakan Yilmazkuday, 2015. "Pass-through of trade costs to U.S. import prices," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 151(4), pages 609-633, November.
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    10. Costas Arkolakis & Arnaud Costinot & Dave Donaldson & Andrés Rodríguez-Clare, 2019. "The Elusive Pro-Competitive Effects of Trade," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 86(1), pages 46-80.
    11. Philippe Aghion & Antonin Bergeaud & Matthieu Lequien & Marc J. Melitz, 2018. "The Heterogeneous Impact of Market Size on Innovation: Evidence from French Firm-Level Exports," NBER Working Papers 24600, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Swati Dhingra & John Morrow, 2019. "Monopolistic Competition and Optimum Product Diversity under Firm Heterogeneity," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(1), pages 196-232.
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    14. Peter Neary & Monika Mrazova, 2013. "Not so demanding: Preference structure, firm behavior, and welfare," Economics Series Working Papers 691, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    15. Mary Amiti & Oleg Itskhoki & Jozef Konings, 2014. "Importers, Exporters, and Exchange Rate Disconnect," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(7), pages 1942-1978, July.
    16. Jan De Loecker & Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, 2014. "Firm Performance in a Global Market," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 201-227, August.
    17. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/6g0gsihsjmn5snc9pb0jo6hhp is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Spearot, Alan C., 2013. "Variable demand elasticities and tariff liberalization," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 26-41.
    19. Li, Hongbin & Ma, Hong & Xu, Yuan, 2015. "How do exchange rate movements affect Chinese exports? — A firm-level investigation," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 148-161.
    20. Philippe Aghion, Antonin Bergeaud, Matthieu Lequien, Marc J. Melitz, 2018. "The Impact of Exports on Innovation: Theory and Evidence," Working papers 678, Banque de France.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. David Baqaee & Emmanuel Farhi & Kunal Sangani, 2020. "The Darwinian Returns to Scale," NBER Working Papers 27139, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Carlo Altomonte & Domenico Favoino & Monica Morlacco & Tommaso Sonno, 2021. "Markups, intangible capital and heterogeneous financial frictions," CEP Discussion Papers dp1740, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Biavaschi, Costanza & Burzyński, Michał & Elsner, Benjamin & Machado, Joël, 2020. "Taking the skill bias out of global migration," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    4. Joël Cariolle & Petros G Sekeris, 2021. "How export shocks corrupt: theory and evidence," Working Papers hal-03164648, HAL.
    5. Philippe Aghion & Antonin Bergeaud & Matthieu Lequien & Marc J. Melitz, 2018. "The Heterogeneous Impact of Market Size on Innovation: Evidence from French Firm-Level Exports," NBER Working Papers 24600, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Matsuyama, Kiminori & Ushchev, Philip, 2022. "Selection and Sorting of Heterogeneous Firms through Competitive Pressures," CEPR Discussion Papers 17092, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    7. Drivas, Kyriakos & Kalyvitis, Sarantis & Katsimi, Margarita, 2023. "Export prices and markups with a common currency: Empirical evidence from Greek exporting firms and euro adoption," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 79-98.
    8. repec:ecb:ecbdps:202117 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Yan Liang, 2023. "Misallocation and Markups: Evidence from Indian Manufacturing," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 51, pages 161-176, December.
    10. Ferrando, Annalisa & McAdam, Peter & Petroulakis, Filippos & Vives, Xavier, 2021. "Product market structure and monetary policy: evidence from the Euro Area," Working Paper Series 2632, European Central Bank.
    11. Baqaee, David Rezza & Farhi, Emmanuel & Sangani, Kunal, 2021. "The Supply-Side Effects of Monetary Policy," CEPR Discussion Papers 15702, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    12. Imtiaz Ahmad & Zafar Mahmood, 2018. "Inventory, Marketing and Markups of Exporters: The Case of Spinning, Weaving and Finishing Textile Sector of Pakistan," Lahore Journal of Economics, Department of Economics, The Lahore School of Economics, vol. 23(2), pages 1-17, July-Dec.
    13. repec:ecb:ecbdps:202115 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Gene M. Grossman & Elhanan Helpman & Hugo Lhuillier, 2021. "Supply Chain Resilience: Should Policy Promote Diversification or Reshoring?," Working Papers 2021-8, Princeton University. Economics Department..

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Heterogeneous Firm; Globalization; Variable Markups;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms

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