GEP Research Paper 09/09
Regional Heterogeneity and China’s International Trade: Sufficient Lumpiness or Not?
Meng Lu, Chris Milner and Zhihong Yu
Summary
This paper explores whether there is sufficient unevenness or lumpiness in the relative endowments of China’s regions to affect trade patterns. It finds that China was lumpy as recently as 2004.
Abstract
This paper explores whether there is sufficient lumpiness or heterogeneity in the relative endowments (capital, labour and skills) of the regions of China to affect China’s specialization and trade patterns. It does so using both the lens condition to identify the violation of factor price equalization across regions, and direct evidence on regional trade and specialization. The results are sensitive to the level of regional aggregation. The paper concludes, however, that China was sufficiently lumpy as recently as 2004 to affect it pattern of international trade.
Issued in May 2009
This paper is available in PDF format