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Payment Choice in International Trade: Theory and Evidence from Cross-country Firm Level Data

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Hoefele

    (School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK)

  • Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr

    (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA)

  • Zihong Yu

    (Nottingham University School of Economics, UK)

Abstract

When trading across borders, firms choose between di erent payment contracts. Theoretically, this should allow firms to trade-off differences in financing costs and enforcement across countries. This paper provides evidence for this hypothesis from a large number of countries. As predicted, the use of Open Account decreases in financing costs and contract enforcement in the source country. We extend the theory and show that the more complex an industry is, the more important is contract enforcement and the less important are financing costs for the contract choice. We also find evidence that suggests that international enforcement problems can explain trade intermediation.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Hoefele & Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr & Zihong Yu, 2013. "Payment Choice in International Trade: Theory and Evidence from Cross-country Firm Level Data," Discussion Paper Series 2013_11, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Oct 2013.
    • Handle: RePEc:lbo:lbowps:2013_11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade finance; payment contracts; industry complexity; developing countries; trade intermediation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F3 - International Economics - - International Finance
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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