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Measuring the benefits of foreign product variety with an accurate variety set

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  • Blonigen, Bruce A.
  • Soderbery, Anson

Abstract

Recent studies have used import data to assess the impact of foreign varieties on domestic prices and welfare. We employ a market-based data set on the U.S. automobile market that allows us to define goods varieties at a more precise level, as well as discern location of production and ownership of varieties. Our estimates of price and welfare changes from new varieties in the U.S. automobile sector are twice as large as standard estimates when using our detailed market-based data. We also show that new varieties introduced by foreign-owned affiliates provided an additional 70% welfare gain during our sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Blonigen, Bruce A. & Soderbery, Anson, 2010. "Measuring the benefits of foreign product variety with an accurate variety set," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 168-180, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:inecon:v:82:y:2010:i:2:p:168-180
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Product variety Trade Armington Monopolistic competition Automobiles;

    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F6 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization

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