Scholarlink

<p>Distance constitutes a significant barrier to trade, with its effects compounded by red tape and complex border procedures. This paper uses trade and production data across 146 sectors, 228 exporters, and 163 importers during 2012–2019 to provide cross-country evidence that trade facilitation can reduce the negative impact of distance on trade (the distance elasticity). A one standard deviation increase (0.44 index points) in the OECD’s Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFI) is estimated to decrease the distance elasticity by 20%. Sector- and product-level analyses reveal that at higher TFI levels, distance elasticities narrow, with the most distance-sensitive sectors showing the largest gains from streamlined border processes. These findings highlight the critical role of trade facilitation in overcoming geographic barriers, particularly for low-income countries, where such measures could yield substantial trade benefits.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Coming together: how trade facilitation reduces the distance elasticity

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月14日

查看全文
  • Erik Frohm

摘要

Distance constitutes a significant barrier to trade, with its effects compounded by red tape and complex border procedures. This paper uses trade and production data across 146 sectors, 228 exporters, and 163 importers during 2012–2019 to provide cross-country evidence that trade facilitation can reduce the negative impact of distance on trade (the distance elasticity). A one standard deviation increase (0.44 index points) in the OECD’s Trade Facilitation Indicators (TFI) is estimated to decrease the distance elasticity by 20%. Sector- and product-level analyses reveal that at higher TFI levels, distance elasticities narrow, with the most distance-sensitive sectors showing the largest gains from streamlined border processes. These findings highlight the critical role of trade facilitation in overcoming geographic barriers, particularly for low-income countries, where such measures could yield substantial trade benefits.