Solving the Puzzle: A New Measure of Trade Distance in the Gravity Equation

Documentos de trabajo Economía y Finanzas No 13-12

23 Pages Posted: 10 Feb 2014 Last revised: 1 Jun 2014

See all articles by Juan-Felipe Mejia

Juan-Felipe Mejia

Universidad EAFIT - School of Economics and Finance - Center for Research in Economic & Finance (CIEF)

Andres Ramirez Hassan

Universidad EAFIT - School of Economics and Finance - Center for Research in Economic & Finance (CIEF)

Date Written: May 31, 214

Abstract

The gravity model is a workhorse tool that has been widely used in international trade. However, one empirical question that frequently arises is related to the conceptualization and measurement of distance. To overcome this limitation, our study proposes an index of distance based on multivariate statistical analysis. Speci cally, we build our index using Factorial Analysis for Mixed Data. For robustness check, we use Principal Component Analysis. Both techniques summarize in one factor information related to geographical, cultural, political and economic variables that might a ect international trade between countries. We use this index as proxy of distance, and Gross Domestic Product as proxy of mass, and we run some panel data exercises between 1995 and 2000 for 10 Latin American economies. Estimations indicate that the sign of the load factors in Factor Analysis for Mixed Data are intuitively plausible, and that panel data exercises give sensible robust outcomes.

Keywords: Factor Analysis for Mixed Data, Gravity Equation Model, Panel Data, Trade Distance

JEL Classification: F11, F14

Suggested Citation

Mejia, Juan-Felipe and Ramirez Hassan, Andres, Solving the Puzzle: A New Measure of Trade Distance in the Gravity Equation (May 31, 214). Documentos de trabajo Economía y Finanzas No 13-12, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2393195 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2393195

Juan-Felipe Mejia (Contact Author)

Universidad EAFIT - School of Economics and Finance - Center for Research in Economic & Finance (CIEF) ( email )

Carrera 49 No. 7 South - 50
Bogotá
Colombia

Andres Ramirez Hassan

Universidad EAFIT - School of Economics and Finance - Center for Research in Economic & Finance (CIEF) ( email )

Carrera 49 No. 7 South - 50
Bogotá
Colombia
05742619500 (Phone)

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