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Imported inputs, irreversibility, and international trade dynamics

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  • Ramanarayanan, Ananth

Abstract

In aggregate data, international trade volumes adjust slowly in response to relative price changes, an observation at odds with static models. This paper develops a model of trade in intermediate inputs in which heterogeneous producers face irreversibilities in adjusting their importing status. Changes in aggregate imports are accounted for by adjustment within importing plants, through reallocation between non-importers and importers, and through changes in the importing decisions of new and existing plants. When calibrated to Chilean plant-level data, the model shows that irreversibilities are important for generating aggregate and plant-level dynamics of trade flows in line with the data. In response to a permanent trade reform, increased importing at existing plants crowds out entry, raising consumption above its long-run level, and leading to welfare gains larger than a static model would imply.

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  • Ramanarayanan, Ananth, 2017. "Imported inputs, irreversibility, and international trade dynamics," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-18.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:104:y:2017:i:c:p:1-18
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2016.10.007
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    6. Piotr Gabrielczak & Tomasz Serwach, 2014. "Produktywnosc a ekspansja miedzynarodowa przedsiebiorstw. Przypadek wojewodztwa lodzkiego / Firms’ productivity and their international expansion. The case of Lodz voivodeship," International Economics, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology, issue 5, pages 7-28, March.
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    9. Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2019. "Understanding the international elasticity puzzle," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 140-153.
    10. Bernabe Lopez‐Martin, 2022. "Firm Export Dynamics And The Exchange Rate: A Quantitative Exploration," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(3), pages 1137-1163, August.
    11. Burstein, Ariel & Kurz, Christopher & Tesar, Linda, 2008. "Trade, production sharing, and the international transmission of business cycles," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 775-795, May.
    12. Sébastien Jean, 2020. "How the COVID-19 Pandemic Is Reshaping the Trade Landscape and What to Do About It," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 55(3), pages 135-139, May.
    13. Fu, Qiuyao & Zhang, Teng & Li, Yunong, 2021. "Trade liberalization induced profitability enhancement? The impact of intermediate input imports on firm profitability," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    14. Joseph Steinberg, 2019. "On the Source of U.S. Trade Deficits: Global Saving Glut or Domestic Saving Drought?," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 31, pages 200-223, January.
    15. Gibson, Mark J. & Graciano, Tim A., 2012. "Trade Engagement and Producer Performance," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 124833, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    16. Charles Engel & Jian Wang, 2007. "International trade in durable goods: understanding volatility, cyclicality, and elastics," Globalization Institute Working Papers 03, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
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    18. Steinberg, Joseph B., 2019. "Brexit and the macroeconomic impact of trade policy uncertainty," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 175-195.
    19. Piotr Gabrielczak & Tomasz Serwach, 2016. "Firm-level productivity and international expansion of firms from the Lodz Voivodeship," Lodz Economics Working Papers 7/2016, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology.

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    Keywords

    Trade in intermediate goods; Plant-level heterogeneity; Dynamics of trade liberalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F4 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance

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