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Distribution Capital and the Short- and Long-run Import Demand Elasticity

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  • Mario J. Crucini
  • J. Scott Davis

Abstract

International business-cycle models assume that home and foreign goods are poor substitutes. International trade models assume they are close substitutes. This paper constructs a model where this discrepancy is due to frictions in distribution. Imports need to be combined with a local non-traded input, distribution capital, which is slow to adjust. As a result, imported and domestic goods appear as poor substitutes in the short run. In the long run this non-traded input can be reallocated, and quantities can shift following a change in relative prices. Thus the observed substitutability between home and foreign goods gets larger as time passes.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario J. Crucini & J. Scott Davis, 2013. "Distribution Capital and the Short- and Long-run Import Demand Elasticity," CAMA Working Papers 2013-56, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    • Handle: RePEc:een:camaaa:2013-56
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    Cited by:

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    2. Corsetti, Giancarlo & Mavroeidi, Eleonora & Thwaites, Gregory & Wolf, Martin, 2019. "Step away from the zero lower bound: Small open economies in a world of secular stagnation," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 88-102.
    3. Anderson, James E. & Yotov, Yoto V., 2020. "Short run gravity," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    4. Corsetti, Giancarlo, 2016. "Comments on “Obstfeld and Rogoff׳s international macro puzzles: a quantitative assessment” by J. Eaton, S. Kortum and B. Neiman," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 24-28.
    5. James E. Anderson & Yoto V. Yotov, 2020. "Pound for Pound Export Diversification," CESifo Working Paper Series 8800, CESifo.
    6. A. Auer, Raphael & Chaney, Thomas & Sauré, Philip, 2018. "Quality pricing-to-market," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 87-102.
    7. Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2019. "Understanding the international elasticity puzzle," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 140-153.
    8. James E. Anderson & Yoto V. Yotov, 2022. "Estimating Gravity from the Short to the Long Run: A Simple Solution to the 'International Elasticity Puzzle'," NBER Working Papers 30809, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Mark A. Wynne, 2012. "Five Years of Research on Globalization and Monetary Policy: What Have We Learned?," Annual Report, Globalization and Monetary Policy Institute, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, pages 2-17.
    10. Yoto V. Yotov, 2021. "The Variation of Gravity within Countries (or 15 Reasons Why Gravity Should Be Estimated with Domestic Trade Flows)," CESifo Working Paper Series 9057, CESifo.
    11. Baumann, Ursel & Dieppe, Alistair & Dizioli, Allan Gloe, 2017. "Why should the world care? Analysis, mechanisms and spillovers of the destination based border adjusted tax," Working Paper Series 2093, European Central Bank.
    12. Nikhil Patel, 2016. "International Trade Finance and the Cost Channel of Monetary Policy in Open Economies," BIS Working Papers 539, Bank for International Settlements.
    13. Khan, Shafaat Yar & Khederlarian, Armen, 2021. "How does trade respond to anticipated tariff changes? Evidence from NAFTA," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    14. Dudley Cooke, 2019. "Technology Choice and the Long- and Short-Run Armington Elasticity," Globalization Institute Working Papers 373, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    15. James E. Anderson & Yoto V. Yotov, 2022. "Quantifying the Extensive Margin(s) of Trade: The Case of Uneven European Integration," CESifo Working Paper Series 9822, CESifo.
    16. Hakan Yilmazkuday, 2017. "Unifying Macro Elasticities in International Economics," Globalization Institute Working Papers 299, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    17. Michael Bleaney & Mo Tian, 2014. "Exchange Rates and Trade Balance Adjustment: A Multi-Country Empirical Analysis," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 655-675, September.
    18. Nikhil Patel, 2021. "International Trade Finance and the Cost Channel of Monetary Policy in Open Economies," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 17(70), pages 1-62, October.
    19. Mile Bošnjak & Vlatka Bilas & Domagoj Raèiæ, 2019. "Time-varying parameters of Croatian import demand," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 37(2), pages 853-872.
    20. Crucini, Mario J. & Yilmazkuday, Hakan, 2014. "Understanding long-run price dispersion," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 226-240.

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    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F44 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Business Cycles

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