Frankel, Jeffrey A. (2009) The estimated effects of the euro on trade: why are they below historical effects of monetary unions among smaller countries? LSE 'Europe in Question' discussion paper series (07/2009). London School of Economics and Political Science, London.
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Abstract
Andy Rose (2000), followed by many others, has used the gravity model of bilateral trade on a large data set to estimate the trade effects of monetary unions among small countries. The finding has been large estimates: Trade among members seems to double or triple, that is, to increase by 100-200%. After the advent of EMU in 1999, Micco, Ordoñez and Stein and others used the gravity model on a much smaller data set to estimate the effects of the euro on trade among its members. The estimates tend to be statistically significant, but far smaller in magnitude: on the order of 10-20% during the first four years. What explains the discrepancy? This paper seeks to address two questions. First, do the effects on intra-euroland trade that were estimated in the euro's first four years hold up in the second four years? The answer is yes. Second, and more complicated, what is the reason for the big discrepancy vis-à-vis other currency unions? We investigate three prominent possible explanations for the gap between 15% and 200%. First, lags. The euro is still very young. Second, size. The European countries are much bigger on average than most of those who had formed currency unions in the past. Third, endogeneity of the decision to adopt an institutional currency link. Perhaps the high correlations estimated in earlier studies were spurious, an artifact of reverse causality. Contrary to expectations, we find no evidence that any of these factors explains a substantial share of the gap, let alone all of it.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Discussion Paper) |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.lse.ac.uk/europeanInstitute/LEQS/LEQSHo... |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 The Author |
| Divisions: | European Institute |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HG Finance J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) |
| JEL classification: | F - International Economics > F1 - Trade F - International Economics > F3 - International Finance > F33 - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions F - International Economics > F4 - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Oct 2013 08:34 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2024 20:13 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/53362 |
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