Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/120432 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IES Working Paper No. 3/2015
Publisher: 
Charles University in Prague, Institute of Economic Studies (IES), Prague
Abstract: 
National borders reduce trade, but most estimates of the border effect seem puzzlingly large. We show that major methodological innovations of the last decade combine to shrink the border effect to a one-third reduction in international trade flows worldwide. The border effect varies across regions: it is substantial in emerging countries, but relatively small in OECD countries. For the computation we collect 1,271 estimates of the border effect reported in 61 studies, codify 32 aspects of study design that may influence the estimates, and use Bayesian model averaging to take into account model uncertainty in meta-analysis. Our results suggest that methods systematically affect the estimated border effects. Espe- cially important is the level of aggregation, measurement of internal and external distance, control for multilateral resistance, and treatment of zero trade flows. We find no evidence of publication bias.
Subjects: 
Bayesian model averaging
bilateral trade
borders
gravity
meta-analysis
publication selection bias
JEL: 
F14
F15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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