Narrow Your Choices

Refine By Topic

Refine By Series

Refine By Language

Refine By Date

—

Refine By IMF Taxonomy

Refine By JEL Taxonomy

Refine by LOC Taxonomy

Refine By THEMA Taxonomy

  • Print
  • Save

Middle East and Central Asia > Mauritania, Islamic Republic of

You are looking at 1 - 2 of 2 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Empirical Studies of Trade x
Clear All Modify Search
Cover IMF Working Papers
Trade Flows, Multilateral Resistance, and Firm Heterogeneity
Mr. Alberto Behar
and
Benjamin D. Nelson
We present a gravity model that accounts for multilateral resistance, firm heterogeneity and country-selection into trade, while accommodating asymmetries in trade flows. A new equation for the proportion of exporting firms takes a gravity form, such that the extensive margin is also affected by multilateral resistance. We develop Taylor approximated multilateral resistance terms with which to capture the comparative static effects of changes in trade costs. For isolated bilateral changes in trade frictions, multilateral resistance effects are small for most countries. However, if all countries reduce their trade frictions, the impact of multilateral resistance is so strong that bilateral trade falls in most cases, despite the larger trade elasticities implied by firm heterogeneity. As a consequence, the world-wide trade response, though positive, is much lower.
Keywords:
WP; trade cost; Gravity models; multilateral resistance; firm heterogeneity; trade elasticity; trade flow; World trade resistance; trade response; trade elasticities net; trade friction; Plurilateral trade; Trade balance; Exports; Multilateral trade; Imports; Global; Country-pair GDP share
Cover IMF Working Papers
On the Pattern of Currency Blocs in Africa
Mr. Etienne B Yehoue
This paper seeks to elucidate the debate over currency union in Africa. The paper examines whether empirical investigation points to the gradual emergence of currency blocs. Based on the historical data on inflation, trade, and the comovements of prices and outputs, I argue that the emergence of large-scale currency blocs in Africa will follow a gradual path and that this dynamic does not lead to the emergence of a single continental currency at this time. Rather, the pattern which emerges seems to suggest three blocs: one in West Africa, a second around South Africa, and a third in Central Africa. Although little evidence is found supporting the emergence of a single African currency at this time, the emergence of an African currency union is not necessarily precluded, since the ultimate decision to surrender a nation's monetary policy to a supranational institution is not made based solely on economic considerations. I then address the issue of a possible anchor for the union, were it to emerge and opt for an anchorage. I find- based on the trade criterion-that the euro seems to be a good choice.
Keywords:
WP; currency bloc; member country; bloc formation; country member; SADC bloc