IMF Working Papers

Global Imbalances: The Role of Non-Tradabletotal Factor Productivity in Advanced Economies

By Alessandro Rebucci, Nicoletta Batini, Pietro Cova, Massimiliano Pisani

March 1, 2009

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Alessandro Rebucci, Nicoletta Batini, Pietro Cova, and Massimiliano Pisani. Global Imbalances: The Role of Non-Tradabletotal Factor Productivity in Advanced Economies, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2009) accessed October 12, 2024
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

This paper investigates the role played by total factor productivity (TFP) in the tradable and nontradable sectors of the United States, the euro area, and Japan in the emergence and evolution of today's global trade imbalances. Simulation results based on a dynamic general equilibrium model of the world economy, and using the EU KLEMS database, indicate that TFP developments in these economies can account for a significant fraction of the total deterioration in the U.S. trade balance since 1999, as well as account for some the surpluses in the euro area and Japan. Differences in TFP developments across sectors can also partially explain the evolution of the real effective value of the U.S. dollar during this period.

Subject: Foreign exchange, International trade, Production, Productivity, Real effective exchange rates, Total factor productivity, Trade balance, Trade deficits

Keywords: Asia and Pacific, Exchange rates, GEM, Global, Global imbalances, Japan, Non-tradable sector, Productivity, Real effective exchange rates, TFP acceleration, TFP change, TFP difference, TFP path, TFP swing, Total factor productivity, Trade balance, Trade deficit, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    39

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2009/063

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2009063

  • ISBN:

    9781451872101

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941