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Trade, Finance, Specialization, and Synchronization

Author/Editor: Imbs, Jean
Authorized for Distribution: April 1, 2003
Electronic Access: Free Full Text (PDF file size is 1,404KB)
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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate.

Summary: The paper investigates the determinants of business cycles synchronization across regions. It uses both international and intranational data to evaluate the linkages between trade in goods, trade in financial assets, specialization and business cycles synchronization using a system of simultaneous equations. The results are as follows: (i) Simultaneity is important, as both trade and financial openness have a direct and an indirect effect on cycle synchronization. (ii) A variety of alternative measures of financial integration suggest that regions with strong financial links are significantly more synchronized, though they are also more specialized. (iii) Specialization patterns have a sizable effect on business cycles, beyond their reflection of intra-industry trade, and of openness to goods and assets trade. (iv) The estimated role of trade is in line with existing models once intra-industry trade is controlled for. The results relate to a recent strand of international business cycle models with incomplete markets and transport costs, and, on the empirical side, point to an important omission in the usual criteria defining an optimal currency area, namely specialization patterns.
 
Series: Working Paper No. 03/81
Subject(s): International trade | Business cycles | Financial sector | Currency boards
Author's keyword(s): Trade | specialization | financial openness | international business cycle | optimal currency area
 
English  
    Published:   April 1, 2003        
    ISBN/ISSN:   1934-7073   Format:   Paper
    Stock No:   WPIEA0812003   Pages:   41
    Price:   US$15.00
       
     
Please address any questions about this title to publications@imf.org.