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Varieties and the Transfer Problem: The Extensive Margin of Current Account Adjustment

Author

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  • Giancarlo Corsetti
  • Philippe Martin
  • Paolo Pesenti
Abstract
Most analyses of the macroeconomic adjustment required to correct global imbalances ignore net exports of new varieties of goods and services and do not account for firms'net entry in the product market. In this paper we revisit the macroeconomics of trade adjustment in the context of the classic 'transfer problem', using a model where the set of exportables, importables and nontraded goods is endogenous. We show that exchange rate movements associated with adjustment are dramatically lower when the above features are accounted for, relative to traditional macromodels. We also find that, for reasonable parameterizations, consumption and employment (hence welfare) are not highly sensitive to product differentiation, and change little regardless of whether adjustment occurs through movements in relative prices or quantities. This result warns against interpreting the size of real depreciation associated with trade rebalancing as an index of macroeconomic distress.

Suggested Citation

  • Giancarlo Corsetti & Philippe Martin & Paolo Pesenti, 2008. "Varieties and the Transfer Problem: The Extensive Margin of Current Account Adjustment," RSCAS Working Papers 2008/01, European University Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:rsc:rsceui:2008/01
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    Cited by:

    1. Cacciatore, Matteo & Ghironi, Fabio & Stebunovs, Viktors, 2015. "The domestic and international effects of interstate U.S. banking," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(2), pages 171-187.
    2. Gian Maria Milesi‐Ferretti, 2008. "Fundamentals at Odds? The US Current Account Deficit and Dollar," Economic Notes, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA, vol. 37(3), pages 259-281, November.
    3. Cavallari, Lilia, 2010. "Exports and foreign direct investments in an endogenous-entry model with real and nominal uncertainty," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 300-313, March.
    4. Viktoria Hnatkovska & Michael Devereux, 2009. "International and Intra-national Real Exchange Rates: Evidence and Theory," 2009 Meeting Papers 1213, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    5. Kawai, Masahiro & Zhai, Fan, 2009. "China-Japan-United States integration amid global rebalancing: A computable general equilibrium analysis," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(6), pages 688-699, November.
    6. Masahiro Kawai & Fan Zhai, 2012. "Asia’s Post-global Financial Crisis Adjustment: A Model-based Dynamic Analysis," Chapters, in: Masahiro Kawai & Peter J. Morgan & Shinji Takagi (ed.), Monetary and Currency Policy Management in Asia, chapter 8, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Stéphane Auray & Aurélien Eyquem & Jean-Christophe Poutineau, 2009. "Inflation Targets in a Monetary Union with Endogenous Entry," Cahiers de recherche 09-02, Departement d'économique de l'École de gestion à l'Université de Sherbrooke.
    8. Ehsan U. Choudhri & Lawrence L. Schembri, 2010. "Productivity, the Terms of Trade, and the Real Exchange Rate: Balassa–Samuelson Hypothesis Revisited," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(5), pages 924-936, November.
    9. Masahiro Kawai & Fan Zhai, 2010. "Asia’s Post-Global Financial Crisis Adjustment : A Model-Based Dynamic Scenario Analysis," Finance Working Papers 23055, East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.
    10. Hans-Werner Sinn & John Hassler & Gilles Saint-Paul & Giancarlo Corsetti & Michael P. Devereux & Tim Jenkinson & Jan-Egbert Sturm & Xavier Vives, 2009. "Chapter 2: The Financial Crisis," EEAG Report on the European Economy, CESifo, vol. 0, pages 59-122, February.
    11. Hamano, Masashige, 2015. "International equity and bond positions in a DSGE model with variety risk in consumption," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 212-226.
    12. Robert Dekle & Jonathan Eaton & Samuel Kortum, 2008. "Global Rebalancing with Gravity: Measuring the Burden of Adjustment," IMF Staff Papers, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 55(3), pages 511-540, July.
    13. Paolo A. Pesenti, 2007. "Comment on "Current Account Dynamics and Monetary Policy"," NBER Chapters, in: International Dimensions of Monetary Policy, pages 244-250, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    14. Francesco Pappada, 2008. "Real adjustment of current account imbalances with firms' heterogeneity," Post-Print halshs-00348888, HAL.
    15. Maswana, Jean-Claude, 2010. "The Global Financial Crisis and Recession," Working Papers 15, JICA Research Institute.
    16. Auray, Stéphane & Eyquem, Aurélien & Poutineau, Jean-Christophe, 2012. "The effect of a common currency on the volatility of the extensive margin of trade," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 1156-1179.
    17. Lars Calmfors & Giancarlo Corsetti & Michael P. Devereux & Gilles Saint-Paul & Hans-Werner Sinn & Jan-Egbert Sturm & Xavier Vives, 2008. "Chapter 2: How much real dollar depreciation is needed to correct global imbalances?," EEAG Report on the European Economy, CESifo, vol. 0, pages 61-70, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    transfer problem; current account; global imbalances; extensive margin;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F32 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Current Account Adjustment; Short-term Capital Movements
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics

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