The Combination of Gravity and Welfare Approaches for Evaluating Nontariff Measures

This article explores the link between gravity and welfare frameworks for measuring the impact of nontariff measures. First, an analytical approach suggests how to combine a gravity equation with a partial equilibrium model to determine the welfare impact of nontariff measures. Second, an empirical application focuses on the effects of a standard that caps antibiotic residues in crustaceans in the United States, the European Union, Canada, and Japan. While the econometric estimation of the gravity equation reports a negative impact on imports, welfare evaluations show that in most cases, a stricter standard leads to an increase in both domestic and international welfare.