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Vert-zonal Differentiation in Monopolistic Competition

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  • Francesco Di Comite
  • Jean-François Thisse
  • Hylke Vandenbussche

Abstract

The pattern of trade observed from firm-product-country data calls for a new generation of models. To address the unexplained variation in the data, we propose a new model of monopolistic competition where varieties enter preferences non-symmetrically, capturing both horizontal and vertical differentiation in an unprecedented way. Together with a variable elasticity of substitution, competition effects, varying markups and prices across countries, this results in a tractable model whose predictions differ from existing ones. Using the population of Belgian exporters, our model succeeds in explaining the hitherto unexplained variation. The implications call for a re-thinking of earlier results and measurement practices.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven in its series LICOS Discussion Papers with number 30011.

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Date of creation: 2011
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Handle: RePEc:lic:licosd:30011

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Keywords: Heterogeneous firms - Horizontal differentiation - Vertical differentiation - Monopolistic competition - non symmetric varieties;

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References

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Citations

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Cited by:
  1. Di Comite, Francesco & Rovegno, Laura & Vandenbussche, Hylke & Viegelahn, Christian, 2011. "Moving up the Quality ladder? EU-China Trade Dynamics in Clothing," CEPR Discussion Papers 8725, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  2. Massimiliano Bratti & Giulia Felice, 2011. "Are Exporters More Likely to Introduce Product Innovations?," Development Working Papers 306, Centro Studi Luca d\'Agliano, University of Milano, revised 09 May 2011.
  3. Francesco Di Comite, 2012. "Measuring quality and non-cost competitiveness at a country-product level," European Economy - Economic Papers 467, Directorate General Economic and Monetary Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.

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