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Contractual frictions and the patterns of trade: The role of generalized trust

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  • Gideon Onyewuchi Ndubuisi

Abstract

Extant studies on the relationship between ‘domestic institutions, comparative advantage, and international specialization’ have primarily focused on formal institutions. This paper contributes to this literature by focusing on domestic informal contracting institutions vis-á-vis generalized trust as a source of comparative advantage. Employing a bilateral industry trade data, the paper finds robust evidence that countries with high generalized trust level export relatively more in industries that are prone to contractual frictions. Results on export margins further suggest that countries with a high generalized trust level enter more markets, ship more products to each destination, and have higher export per product and export intensities in those industries. On the one hand, the results reemphasize the importance of trust for improved economic performance. On the other hand, the results explain why a country endowed with weak formal domestic contracting institutions may still have a comparative cost advantage in contract intensive industries due to having strong domestic informal institutions such as generalized trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Gideon Onyewuchi Ndubuisi, 2020. "Contractual frictions and the patterns of trade: The role of generalized trust," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(7), pages 775-796, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jitecd:v:29:y:2020:i:7:p:775-796
    DOI: 10.1080/09638199.2020.1745259
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    Cited by:

    1. Ndubuisi, Gideon, 2020. "Fettered cross-border capital flows, external finance dependence, and international trade," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 206-216.
    2. Ndubuisi, Gideon & Mensah, Emmanuel & Owusu, Solomon, 2020. "Export Variety and Imported Intermediate Inputs: Industry-Level Evidence from Africa," MPRA Paper 106008, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Alexeev, Michael & Chernyavskiy, Andrey, 2021. "The impact of institutional quality on manufacturing sectors: A panel data analysis," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 45(3).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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