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International Trade, Quality Sorting and Trade Costs: The Case of Cognac

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  • Charlotte Emlinger
  • Viola Lamani

Abstract

This paper tests empirically the validity of the Alchian and Allen effect, using an original dataset of French Cognac exports by quality designations. More specifically, we estimate the impact of trade costs on the share and relative price of high quality Cognac. The definition of quality, based on the minimum time in oak of the youngest eau-de-vie used in creating the blend, is subject to regulations and is constant and objective, which makes the case of Cognac particularly relevant to analyze the impact of different trade costs on the quality mix. Our estimation proceeds in two parts. First, we investigate to what extent distance and customs duties impact the Cognac quality mix from 1996 to 2013. Second, we assess the impact of a variation in trade costs, through the adoption of containerization, on the quality mix of Cognac exports between 1969 and 2013. Our results confirm the Alchian and Allen effect: per-unit trade costs increase the share of high quality Cognac and have the opposite impact on its relative price.

Suggested Citation

  • Charlotte Emlinger & Viola Lamani, 2018. "International Trade, Quality Sorting and Trade Costs: The Case of Cognac," Cahiers du GREThA (2007-2019) 2018-05, Groupe de Recherche en Economie Théorique et Appliquée (GREThA).
    • Handle: RePEc:grt:wpegrt:2018-05
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    Cited by:

    1. Fiankor, Dela-Dem Doe, 2022. "Distance to destination and export price variation within agri-food firms," 96th Annual Conference, April 4-6, 2022, K U Leuven, Belgium 321203, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    2. Chen, Natalie & Juvenal, Luciana, 2022. "Markups, quality, and trade costs," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Bastos, Paulo & Silva, Joana, 2010. "The quality of a firm's exports: Where you export to matters," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(2), pages 99-111, November.
    4. Raphaël Chiappini & Cyrielle Gaglio, 2024. "Digital intensity, trade costs and exports' quality upgrading," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 709-747, February.
    5. Duvaleix, Sabine & Emlinger, Charlotte & Gaigné, Carl & Latouche, Karine, 2021. "Geographical indications and trade: Firm-level evidence from the French cheese industry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Filippis, Fabrizio De & Giua, Mara & Salvatici, Luca & Vaquero-Pineiro, Cristina, 2021. "The International Competitiveness of Geographical Indications: Hype or Hope?," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315147, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    7. Ridley, William & Luckstead, Jeff & Devadoss, Stephen, 2022. "Wine: The punching bag in trade retaliation," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    8. Dela‐Dem Fiankor & Fabio G. Santeramo, 2023. "Revisiting the impact of per‐unit duties on agricultural export prices," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(3), pages 1472-1492, September.
    9. Olivier Bargain & Jean‐Marie Cardebat & Raphaël Chiappini, 2023. "Trade uncorked: Genetic distance and taste‐related barriers in wine trade," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(2), pages 674-708, March.
    10. Olivier BARGAIN & Jean-Marie CARDEBAT & Raphaël CHIAPPINI, 2020. "Trade Uncorked: Genetic Resistance and Quality Heterogeneity in Wine Exports," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2020-18, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    11. Kossi Messanh Agbekponou & Angela Cheptea & Karine Latouche, 2023. "Quality upgrading and position in global value chains: Firm-level evidence from the French agri-food industry," Post-Print hal-04321480, HAL.
    12. Kossi Messanh Agbekponou & Angela Cheptea & Karine Latouche, 2023. "Quality upgrading and position in global value chains: Firm-level evidence from the French agri-food industry," Post-Print hal-04321554, HAL.
    13. Ridley, William & Luckstead, Jeff & Devadoss, Stephen, 2022. "Wine: The punching bag in trade retaliation," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    14. De Filippis, Fabrizio & Giua, Mara & Salvatici, Luca & Vaquero-Piñeiro, Cristina, 2022. "The international trade impacts of Geographical Indications: Hype or hope?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Quality mix; luxury product; distance; tariffs.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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