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Technical regulations, intermediate inputs, and performance of firms: Evidence from India

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  • Singh, Rahul
  • Chanda, Rupa

Abstract

We estimate the consequences of maintaining restrictive Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures on markups for manufacturing firms in India. We combine firm-product level data from Prowess with the data on TBTs that have been raised as a concern by member countries against India in the TBT committee of WTO. We find that higher TBT incidence on intermediate inputs to the industry leads to a decrease in markups for importers relative to non-importers. Firms absorb the increase in marginal costs by reducing markups with no significant increase in prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Singh, Rahul & Chanda, Rupa, 2021. "Technical regulations, intermediate inputs, and performance of firms: Evidence from India," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:128:y:2021:i:c:s0022199620301276
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2020.103412
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    2. Irene Iodice & Camille Reverdy & Irene Iodice, 2025. "Protection or Protectionism: The Effect of Technical Regulations on Input Sourcing," CESifo Working Paper Series 11829, CESifo.
    3. Chen, Fanglin & Chen, Zhongfei & Zhang, Xin, 2024. "Belated stock returns for green innovation under carbon emissions trading market," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    4. Wei, Hao & Tu, Yue & Zhou, Peng, 2023. "Technical barriers to trade and export performance: Comparing exiting and staying firms," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    5. Tan, Weijie & Liu, Yiqian & Teng, Mingming, 2025. "When ESG news talks: How media sentiment shapes corporate financial behavior in China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    6. Xiaodan Hu & Yunhua Tian & Yanping Zhou & Lu Feng, 2021. "How Do China's Importing Firms Respond to Non‐tariff Measures?," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 29(4), pages 89-112, July.
    7. Patricia Augier & Olivier Cadot & Marion Dovis, 2024. "Regulatory harmonization with the European Union: opportunity or threat to Moroccan firms?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 160(3), pages 813-841, August.
    8. Chakraborty, Pavel & Chakrabarti, Anindya S. & Chatterjee, Chirantan, 2023. "Cross-border environmental regulation and firm labor demand," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    9. Efrain Boom-Cárcamo & Rita Peñabaena-Niebles, 2022. "Analysis of the Development of Industrial Symbiosis in Emerging and Frontier Market Countries: Barriers and Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-32, April.
    10. Reddy, Ketan & Sasidharan, Subash, 2024. "Global value chains, productivity and markup: Evidence from India," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PB), pages 250-271.
    11. Mahdi Ghodsi, 2021. "Exploring ‘Non-Tariff Measures Black Box’: Whose Regulative NTMs on Which Products Improve the Imported Quality?," wiiw Working Papers 195, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    12. Ghodsi, Mahdi, 2023. "Exploring the ‘non-tariff measures black box’: Whose regulatory NTMs on which products improve the imported quality?," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 45-67.
    13. Payam Elhami & Mahdi Ghodsi & Robert Stehrer, 2021. "Quality of Goods Imports: Which Role for Non-tariff Measures?," wiiw Policy Notes 46, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.

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    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations
    • O24 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy

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