Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/18243 
Year of Publication: 
2001
Series/Report no.: 
DIW Discussion Papers No. 259
Publisher: 
Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), Berlin
Abstract: 
Using a gravity-type explanation of international trade flows at the industry level, it is shown that the pattern of comparative advantage in terms of sectoral export/import ratios in bilateral trade can be explained by relative income and relative per capita income. Total income of a country is a proxy of its economic size and has a positive effect on comparative advantage in most manufacturing industries (home market effect). Per capita income represents the capital-labour endowment ratio and demand conditions. In sum, it has a positive effect in (human) capital-intensive industries and a negative effect in labour-intensive industries.
Subjects: 
Gravity model
comparative advantage
bilateral trade
home market effect
factor endowment
JEL: 
F12
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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