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How Well Is US Intrafirm Trade Measured?

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  • Kim J. Ruhl

Abstract

Using two independent data sources—the intrafirm trade data from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis and the related party trade data from the US Census Bureau—I construct and compare measures of US intrafirm exports and imports. I find that, in general, the two datasets provide similar measures of US intrafirm trade, particularly for exports. Understanding the differences that do exist in measurement will likely require study of the confidential micro data at both the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim J. Ruhl, 2015. "How Well Is US Intrafirm Trade Measured?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 105(5), pages 524-529, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:105:y:2015:i:5:p:524-29
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20151045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Pisch, Frank, 2020. "Managing global production: theory and evidence from just-in-time supply chains," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 108488, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Berlingieri, Giuseppe & Pisch, Frank & Steinwender, Claudia, 2018. "Organizing global supply chains: input costs shares and vertical integration," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 91706, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Christopher Hansman & Jonas Hjort & Gianmarco León-Ciliotta & Matthieu Teachout, 2020. "Vertical Integration, Supplier Behavior, and Quality Upgrading among Exporters," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(9), pages 3570-3625.
    4. Ramondo, Natalia & Rappoport, Veronica & Ruhl, Kim J., 2016. "Intrafirm trade and vertical fragmentation in U.S. multinational corporations," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 51-59.
    5. Toshiyuki Matsuura & Banri Ito & Eiichi Tomiura, 2023. "Intrafirm trade, input–output linkage, and contractual frictions: evidence from Japanese affiliate-level data," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 159(1), pages 133-152, February.
    6. Giuseppe Berlingieri & Frank Pisch & Claudia Steinwender, 2021. "Organizing Global Supply Chains: Input-Output Linkages and Vertical Integration," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 19(3), pages 1816-1852.
    7. Wenjing Zu & Guoda Gu & Sihan Lei, 2022. "Does Digital Transformation in Manufacturing Affect Trade Imbalances? Evidence from US–China Trade," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-14, July.
    8. Maria Cipollina & Filomena Pietrovito & Alberto Franco Pozzolo, 2021. "Do cross‐border mergers and acquisitions reflect participations into global value chains?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(11), pages 3168-3201, November.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business

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