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The not‐so‐generalised effects of the Generalized System of Preferences
Author(s) -
Ornelas Emanuel,
Ritel Marcos
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the world economy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.594
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1467-9701
pISSN - 0378-5920
DOI - 10.1111/twec.12988
Subject(s) - beneficiary , gravity equation , reciprocal , economics , affect (linguistics) , gravity model of trade , econometrics , international trade , international economics , microeconomics , bilateral trade , linguistics , philosophy , finance , china , political science , law
We use an empirical gravity equation to study how non‐reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs), enacted mainly through the Generalized System of Preferences, affect the exports of the beneficiary nations. In line with existing studies, the average trade effect stemming from non‐reciprocal preferences is highly unstable across specifications. However, once we allow for heterogeneous effects, results become robust and economically important. Specifically, NRTPs have a strong effect on the exports of beneficiaries when they are members of the World Trade Organization and are very poor. Not‐so‐poor beneficiaries also expand foreign sales, but only if they are not WTO members. For all others, the average export effects of NRTPs are mute.