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Gains from Trade in Used Goods: Evidence from the Global Market for Automobiles

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  • Sofronis Clerides

Abstract

This paper investigates the welfare effects of trade liberalization by exploiting a natural policy experiment in the small open economy of Cyprus. A 1993 law relaxed import restrictions on used vehicles and facilitated the flow of used Japanese vehicles into the country. This led to a dramatic shift of consumer purchases from new to used cars and a substantial expansion of the overall market. Estimated welfare gains are of the order of several hundred dollars per purchaser. The findings are indicative of the potential for substantial gains from liberalizing trade in used goods, which could also alter trade flows and production

Suggested Citation

  • Sofronis Clerides, 2004. "Gains from Trade in Used Goods: Evidence from the Global Market for Automobiles," University of Cyprus Working Papers in Economics 6-2004, University of Cyprus Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucy:cypeua:6-2004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Nkunde Mwase, 2006. "An Empirical Investigation of the Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Inflation in Tanzania," IMF Working Papers 06/150, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Clerides, Sofronis & Hadjiyiannis, Costas, 2008. "Quality standards for used durables: An indirect subsidy?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 268-282, July.
    3. Clerides, Sofronis, 2008. "Gains from trade in used goods: Evidence from automobiles," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 322-336, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    automobile industry; differentiated products; gains from trade; used goods; trade liberalization;

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L92 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Railroads and Other Surface Transportation

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