Working Paper: NBER ID: w8516
Authors: Donald R. Davis; David E. Weinstein
Abstract: The dominant paradigm of world trade patterns posits two principal features. Trade between North and South arises due to traditional comparative advantage, largely determined by differences in endowment patterns. Trade within the North, much of it intra-industry trade, is based on economies of scale and product differentiation. The paradigm specifically denies an important role for endowment differences in determining North-North trade. This paper provides the first sound empirical examination of this question. We demonstrate that trade in factor services among countries of the North is systematically related to endowment differences and large in economic magnitude. Intra-industry trade, rather than being a puzzle for a factor endowments theory, is instead the conduit for a great deal of this factor service trade.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: F1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| factor endowment differences (F16) | factor service trade (F10) |
| factor service trade (F10) | trade patterns (F10) |
| intraindustry trade (F12) | factor service trade (F10) |
| factor endowment differences (F16) | trade patterns (F10) |