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Trade credit, trade income elasticity and the international transmission of shocks

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  • Anna Watson

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

The paper examines the impact of trade credit on cyclical fluctuations in international trade. It provides new empirical evidence based on firm-level UK and Irish data showing that exporters use trade credit more actively and intensively than non-exporters. The study introduces inter-firm lending into an open economy general equilibrium model with heterogeneous firms and endogenous entry into the exports market. It demonstrates that trade credit amplifies the impact of macroeconomic shocks on international trade both along the intensive and extensive margins and that it significantly contributes to the high trade income elasticity observed in the data.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Watson, 2021. "Trade credit, trade income elasticity and the international transmission of shocks," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(4), pages 687-733, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurase:v:11:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s40822-021-00178-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s40822-021-00178-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Thang, Doan Ngoc & Ha, Le Thanh, 2022. "Trade credit and global value chain: Evidence from cross-country firm-level data," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 110-129.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Trade credit; International trade; Business cycle fluctuations; Trade income elasticity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers

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