Discussion paper

DP9125 International Trade without CES: Estimating Translog Gravity

This paper derives a micro-founded gravity equation based on a translog demand system that allows for flexible substitution patterns across goods. In contrast to the standard CES-based gravity equation, translog gravity generates an endogenous trade cost elasticity. Trade is more sensitive to trade costs if the exporting country only provides a small share of the destination country's imports. As a result, trade costs have a heterogeneous impact across country pairs, with some trade flows predicted to be zero. I test the translog gravity equation and find empirical evidence that is in many ways consistent with its predictions.

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Citation

Novy, D (2012), ‘DP9125 International Trade without CES: Estimating Translog Gravity‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 9125. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp9125