Exports, Investment and Policy Uncertainty
48 Pages Posted: 3 Sep 2016 Last revised: 23 Sep 2016
Date Written: September 1, 2016
Abstract
Building on a literature that underscores the value of delaying investment in the face of uncertainty, we study how policy uncertainty in fifteen large economies affects trade flows into these countries. We show that high levels of uncertainty in destination markets are associated with significantly lower exports to those markets. Furthermore, consistent with a model in which firms face irreversible costs to export, we show that this effect is entirely driven by a reduction in the entry of new products. Finally, we find that the effect of uncertainty on trade flows is significantly stronger when trade costs are less reversible.
Keywords: Policy Uncertainty, International Trade, Extensive Margin, Intensive Margin, Investment Irreversibility
JEL Classification: D81, G18, F14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation