{"title":"On the role of domestic trade flows for estimating the gravity model of trade","authors":"Yoto V. Yotov","doi":"10.1111/coep.12567","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The gravity equation is the workhorse model of trade. Despite solid theoretical foundations and clear gains from theory-consistent policy analysis, there are still gaps between gravity theory and empirics. This paper focuses on domestic trade flows, and I argue that there are significant benefits from adhering to theory by estimating gravity equations with domestic (in addition to international) trade flows. I review the related literature and synthesize 15 arguments for using domestic trade flows in gravity estimations. The analysis reveals the need for further theory contributions and new data developments, and points to opportunities for more policy applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":47364,"journal":{"name":"Contemporary Economic Policy","volume":"40 3","pages":"526-540"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2022-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/coep.12567","citationCount":"30","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Contemporary Economic Policy","FirstCategoryId":"96","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/coep.12567","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ECONOMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 30
Abstract
The gravity equation is the workhorse model of trade. Despite solid theoretical foundations and clear gains from theory-consistent policy analysis, there are still gaps between gravity theory and empirics. This paper focuses on domestic trade flows, and I argue that there are significant benefits from adhering to theory by estimating gravity equations with domestic (in addition to international) trade flows. I review the related literature and synthesize 15 arguments for using domestic trade flows in gravity estimations. The analysis reveals the need for further theory contributions and new data developments, and points to opportunities for more policy applications.
期刊介绍:
Contemporary Economic Policy publishes scholarly economic research and analysis on issues of vital concern to business, government, and other decision makers. Leading western scholars, including three Nobel laureates, are among CEP"s authors. The objectives are to communicate results of high quality economic analysis to policymakers, focus high quality research and analysis on current policy issues of widespread concern, increase knowledge among economists of features of the economy key to understanding the impact of policy, and to advance methods of policy analysis.