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Quality, Distance and Trade: a Strategic Approach

Author

Listed:
  • E. Bacchiega
  • A. Minniti
  • A. Palestini
Abstract
This paper contributes to the vast and growing literature on trade and quality by providing a parsimonious explanation of the observed increase in unit values (and thus quality) of shipped goods with the distance of the country of destination. This mechanism is based on the influence of distance on firms strategic behavior when the quality level of goods is a choice variable for firms, and complements the ones already proposed in the literature. Our approach differs from the extant literature in that it does not rely on technology or preference/income differentials to identify the determinants and drivers of trade flows. Moreover, it allows to clearly disentangle between the price setting and quality choice of firms. We find that distance has an unambiguously positive effect on the average quality of traded goods, as well as a negative one on the likelihood of trade zeros . Our results suit the acquired empirical evidence on distance and quality and contribute, therefore, to the research on the determinants of trade performances of firms and countries. Also, our model suggests some useful insights on the relation between distance and free-on-board prices.

Suggested Citation

  • E. Bacchiega & A. Minniti & A. Palestini, 2010. "Quality, Distance and Trade: a Strategic Approach," Working Papers wp717, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    • Handle: RePEc:bol:bodewp:wp717
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Onur A. Koska, 2020. "Sourcing product quality for foreign market entry," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 156(3), pages 669-702, August.
    3. John Gilbert & Onur A. Koska & Reza Oladi, 2020. "Product Quality and Strategic Asymmetry in International Trade," Working Papers in Economics 20/05, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    4. Roberta Capello & Andrea Caragliu & Ugo Fratesi, 2018. "Breaking Down the Border: Physical, Institutional and Cultural Obstacles," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 94(5), pages 485-513, October.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation

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