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Trade Openness and Growth: Pursuing Empirical Glasnost

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  • Andreas Billmeier
  • Tommaso Nannicini

Abstract

Studies of the impact of trade openness on growth are based either on cross-country analysis—which lacks transparency—or case studies—which lack statistical rigor. This paper applies a transparent econometric method drawn from the treatment evaluation literature (matching estimators) to make the comparison between treated (that is, open) and control (that is, closed) countries explicit while remaining within a statistical framework. Matching estimators highlight that common cross-country evidence is based on rather far-fetched country comparisons, which stem from the lack of common support of treated and control countries in the covariate space. The paper therefore advocates paying more attention to appropriate sample restriction in cross-country macro research. IMF Staff Papers (2009) 56, 447–475. doi:10.1057/imfsp.2008.39; published online 3 March 2009

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  • Andreas Billmeier & Tommaso Nannicini, 2009. "Trade Openness and Growth: Pursuing Empirical Glasnost," IMF Staff Papers, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 56(3), pages 447-475, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:imfstp:v:56:y:2009:i:3:p:447-475
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