DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL SOURCING

This paper develops a general equilibrium Ricardian model with transaction costs to investigate the determinants of the firm's sourcing decision. It derives conditions under which different sourcing choices and corresponding trade patterns occur in general equilibrium. These conditions suggest that, inter alia, the choice between vertical integration and specialisation depends on the relative internal transaction costs associated with vertical integration and external transaction costs associated with international outsourcing; and that the equilibrium sourcing structures and trade patterns are consistent with a refined theory of comparative advantage that incorporates the effects of transaction costs in international trade.endogenous sourcing decisions, transaction costs, Ricardian model

HOW SHOULD A PUBLIC GOOD BE PROVIDED? A TRANSACTION COST APPROACH

This paper investigates how the trade-off between organization costs, transaction costs and economies of specialization may affect the way public goods are provided. In doing so, it considers two ways of providing a public good. One is collective provision where users organize themselves to jointly finance the public good which is produced by a specialized firm. The other is market provision with bundling where a firm produces the public good and a private good and sells them as a bundle. Both methods of public goods provision deal with the problem of non-excludability. The first method involves organization costs, but can take advantage of specialization economies; the second method avoids organization costs, but may incur some transaction costs and forgoes the benefit of specialization economies. Which method is superior depends on the relative magnitudes of organization costs, transaction costs, specialization economies as well as other features of the economy such as population size.public good, transaction costs, organisation costs, specialisation economies .

Would Outsourcing Increase or Decrease Wage Inequality? Two Models, Two Answers

This paper develops two models to study the impact of outsourcing on wage inequality between skilled and unskilled labor in the developed country and the developing country. The first model assumes symmetric production technologies in both countries, and predicts that outsourcing will increase wage inequality in the developed country, but decrease wage inequality in the developing country. The second model assumes asymmetric technologies in the production of the intermediate good and predicts that outsourcing can lead to an increase in wage inequality in both the developed country and the developing country.wage inequality, endogenous outsourcing

The "Exorbitant Privilege": A Theoretical Exposition

This paper develops a general equilibrium model to study how the "exorbitant advantage" works, whether it is sustainable, and what may be the consequences if it is removed. Its main findings are: (1) the center country that issues the reserve currency enjoys the "exorbitant advantage" in the sense that her current account deficit can be financed by the periphery country¡¯s reserve holdings. The "exorbitant privilege" is predicated on the overvaluation of the reserve currency caused by a higher rate of money growth in the center country; (2) the "exorbitant advantage" is not likely to be sustainable in the long run; (3) if the "exorbitant advantage" is removed, the value of the reserve currency will depreciate, the terms of trade will change against the periphery country and sector composition will change in favour of the tradable sector in the center country and in favour of the non-tradable sector in periphery country. These changes will be more pronounced if the center country repays her debt by printing money instead of raising taxes."Exorbitant Privilege", international currency, external imbalances, foreign debt, internal adjustment

Why Might a Country Want to Develop its Comparative Disadvantage Industries?

This paper develops a general equilibrium 2x2 Ricardian model that demonstrates the possibility of immiserizing growth as a result of a productivity improvement in a country's export industry. The model also shows that immiserizing growth can be avoided by improving the productivity of the country's comparative disadvantage industry. However this strategy may inflict harm on its trading partner. In comparison, a balanced growth strategy can improve welfare of the growing country without hurting its trading partner.2x2 Ricardian model, immiserizing growth, balanced growth

The Arm’s Length Principle, Transfer Pricing and Foreclosure under Imperfect Competition

Abstract: This paper studies a multinational firm’s transfer price decisions in imperfectly competitive market settings. It investigates whether the firm’s optimal transfer price coincides with the arm’s length price and examines how the firm might respond if it is compelled to follow the arm’s length principle. The main findings are: (1) in the absence of tax transfer incentives, the firm’s optimal transfer price does not coincide with the arm’s length price. If the firm is compelled to follow the arm’s length principle, it has an incentive to circumvent the arm’s length principle by keeping two sets of books, one for internal management, and another for tax reporting purposes; (2) the arm’s length principle can affect the MNF’s decision on whether or not to foreclose its competitor. Absent profit shifting incentives, the firm will foreclose its downstream competitor. Imposing the arm’s length principle induces the firm to supply its competitor, but the firm can revert to its foreclosure decision by keeping two sets of books. If the firm’s upstream and downstream divisions face different tax rates, the firm’s foreclosure decision will be reversed if the arm’s length principle is enforced.Crime Victimisation, Institutions, Happiness, Ordered Probit, Rule of Law.

International Transmission of Monetary Shocks in a Ricardian World

This paper investigates how monetary shocks are transmitted internationally. It shows that where a national currency is used as an international medium of exchange, the international money is non-neutral. In particular, an increase in the supply of international money leads to a transfer of real resources to the international money-issuing country from its trading partner. It induces an expansion of the non-tradable sector in the international money-issuing country, and an expansion the tradable sector in its trading partner. The real impact of a monetary shock is greater under a fixed exchange rate system than under a flexible exchange rate system.demand for money, demand for international currency, monetary policy, exchange rate, non-neutrality of money

Can Productivity Progress in China hurt the US ? Professor Samuelson's Example Extended

This paper develops a general equilibrium 3-good Ricardian model that extends Professor Samuelson's example on the impact of productivity progress published in JEP (summer 2004). Our model highlights Professor Samuelson's insight that productivity progress can change the pattern of trade which in turn can have dramatic welfare implications. It also shows that while Professor Samuelson is correct that productivity growth in one country can hurt another, the loss is not as permanent as his example appears to suggest. Continuing productivity growth in one country is likely to benefit all trading countries in the long run.3-good Ricardian model, impact of productivity growth, globalisation

International Transmission of Monetary Shocks and the Non-Neutrality of International Money

This paper investigates how monetary shocks are transmitted internationally. It shows that where a national currency is used as an international medium of exchange, the international money is non-neutral. In particular, an increase in the supply of international money leads to a transfer of real resources to the international money-issuing country from its trading partner. It also induces an expansion of the non-tradable sector in the international money-issuing country, and an expansion the tradable sector in its trading partner. The real impact of a monetary shock is greater under a fixed exchange rate system than under a flexible exchange rate system.demand for money, demand for international currency, monetary policy, exchange rate, non-neutrality of money

North-South Trade and the Non-Neutrality of International Money

This paper develops a Ricardian model with money to study North-South trade that is mediated by the currency of the North. The model shows that an increase in the supply of Northern money results in inflation being “exported†to the South. The increase in the supply of Northern money also has real effects: (1) it transfers real resources from the South to the North, lowers the wage rate in the South relative to that in the North, and worsens the terms of trade for the South; and (2) it leads to structural changes in both economies by encouraging the expansion of the tradable sector in the South and the expansion of the non-tradable sector in the North.North-South trade, demand for money, demand for foreign exchange, monetary policy, money non-neutrality