Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/37539 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
Beiträge zur Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2010: Ökonomie der Familie - Session: Firm Heterogeneity and Exports: Empirical Evidence No. C4-V3
Publisher: 
Verein für Socialpolitik, Frankfurt a. M.
Abstract: 
This paper presents novel empirical evidence on key predictions of heterogeneous firm models by examining stock market reactions to the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement of 1989. Using the uncertainty surrounding the agreement's ratification, I show that the pattern of abnormal returns of Canadian manufacturing firms was broadly consistent with the predictions of a class of models based on Melitz (2003). Increases in the likelihood of ratification led to stock market gains of exporting firms relative to non-exporters. Moreover, gains were higher in sectors with larger cuts in U.S. import tariffs. Decreases in the likelihood of ratification led to opposite stock market reactions. Results for the impact of Canadian tariff reductions are less conclusive but most specifications suggest that exporters also gained relative to non-exporters in response to such reductions.
Subjects: 
Heterogeneous Firm Models
Stock Market Event Studies
Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement
JEL: 
F12
F14
G14
Document Type: 
Conference Paper

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