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Hub-and-Spoke Free Trade Areas

Author

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  • Desmet, Klaus
  • Facchini, Giovanni
  • Deltas, George

Abstract

This paper analyzes how the sequential formation of free trade areas affects the volume of trade between member countries. In a three--country, three--good model, if two countries have a free trade area, and both sign a similar agreement with the third, trade between the two decreases, and welfare rises in both. However, if only one of them signs an FTA with the third, a hub-and-spoke pattern arises. If the two spokes have a comparative advantage in different goods, trade between the two countries in the initial FTA increases, with welfare rising in the hub and falling in the spoke. We provide evidence consistent with the theoretical model when studying the experience of Israel.

Suggested Citation

  • Desmet, Klaus & Facchini, Giovanni & Deltas, George, 2006. "Hub-and-Spoke Free Trade Areas," CEPR Discussion Papers 5960, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:5960
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Soo Yuen Chong & Jung Hur, 2007. "Overlapping Free Trade Agreements of Singapore-USA-Japan : A Computational Analysis," Trade Working Papers 21931, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    2. Soo Yuen Chong & Jung Hur, 2008. "Small Hubs, Large Spokes and Overlapping Free Trade Agreements," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(12), pages 1625-1665, December.
    3. Carolina Rojas Sánchez & Álvaro Pío Gómez Olaya2, 2018. "Los acuerdos comerciales bilaterales: el caso Colombiano (1990-2015)," Apuntes del Cenes, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, vol. 37(65), pages 114-156, February.
    4. Teteryatnikova, Mariya, 2018. "R&D in trade networks: The role of asymmetry," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 307-350.
    5. Hur, Jung & Alba, Joseph D. & Park, Donghyun, 2010. "Effects of Hub-and-Spoke Free Trade Agreements on Trade: A Panel Data Analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1105-1113, August.
    6. Innwon Park, 2006. "East Asian Regional Trade Agreements: Do They Promote Global Free Trade?," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(4), pages 547-568, December.
    7. Earl Grinols & Peri Silva, 2011. "Rules of origin and gains from trade," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 47(1), pages 159-173, May.
    8. Jiyun Cao, 2015. "The Consideration Of Hub-And-Spoke Status In Fta Formation," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(4), pages 382-392, October.
    9. Ms. Patrizia Tumbarello, 2007. "Are Regional Trade Agreements in Asia Stumbling or Building Blocks? Implications for the Mekong-3 Countries," IMF Working Papers 2007/053, International Monetary Fund.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hub-and-spoke; Free trade areas; Trade volumes; Israel;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F11 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Neoclassical Models of Trade
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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