{
  "title": "Bilateral Trade in Services: Insights from A New Research Dataset",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, August 15, 2025",
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  "summary": "This paper introduces the Bilateral Trade in Services (BiTS) research dataset. BiTS draws primarily on the non-estimated trade values from the OECD-WTO Balanced Trade in Services (BaTIS) database, which serves as the cornerstone of this work.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Dataset description",
      "content": "- Introduces the Bilateral Trade in Services (BiTS) research dataset.\n- BiTS draws primarily on the non-estimated trade values from the OECD-WTO Balanced Trade in Services (BaTIS) database, which serves as the cornerstone of the work.\n- Harmonizes BaTIS data with information from the UNCTAD-WTO Trade in Services Database, UN Comtrade, Eurostat, and other official sources under a consistent BPM6 classification standard."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Coverage and classification",
      "content": "- Time period covered: 1985-2023.\n- Service categories:\n  - 12 major services categories covered.\n  - 9 of the 12 major categories are further disaggregated into 26 distinct subcategories.\n- Harmonization: All categories and subcategories are harmonized under a consistent BPM6 classification standard for the period 1985-2023."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Methodology and sources",
      "content": "- Primary data source: non-estimated trade values from OECD-WTO BaTIS.\n- Supplementary sources: UNCTAD-WTO Trade in Services Database, UN Comtrade, Eurostat, and other official sources.\n- Objective: Enable analysis of bilateral services trade patterns over an extended time period by creating a consistent, harmonized research dataset."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings and applications",
      "content": "- Application 1 — Gravity forces and trade composition:\n  - \"Gravity forces\" have become less powerful in explaining services trade patterns over time.\n  - Decline in explanatory power is attributed to a shift in the composition of trade toward less distance-sensitive services.\n- Application 2 — Geopolitical fissures and services resilience:\n  - Overall services trade remains resilient to growing geopolitical fissures.\n  - Modern services appear more sensitive to geopolitical alignment than traditional services."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key statistics and publication metadata (as stated in source)",
      "content": "- Pages: 39\n- Volume: 2025\n- Issue: 163\n- Series: Working Paper No. 2025/163\n- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229023030.001\n- ISBN: 9798229023030\n\nSource: IMF Working Paper “Bilateral Trade in Services: Insights from A New Research Dataset” by Nan Li, Sergii Meleshchuk, Qiuyan Yin, Dennis Zhao, and Robert Zymek, August 15, 2025.\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Working Paper\n  - Working Paper (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Working Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2025/08/15/bilateral-trade-in-services-insights-from-a-new-database-569775"
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    "Authors: Nan Li, Sergii Meleshchuk, Qiuyan Yin, Dennis Zhao, Robert Zymek",
    "Published: August 15, 2025",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229023030.001",
    "Introduces the Bilateral Trade in Services (BiTS) research dataset.",
    "BiTS draws primarily on the non-estimated trade values from the OECD-WTO Balanced Trade in Services (BaTIS) database, which serves as the cornerstone of the work.",
    "Harmonizes BaTIS data with information from the UNCTAD-WTO Trade in Services Database, UN Comtrade, Eurostat, and other official sources under a consistent BPM6 classification standard.",
    "Time period covered: 1985-2023.",
    "Service categories:",
    "Harmonization: All categories and subcategories are harmonized under a consistent BPM6 classification standard for the period 1985-2023.",
    "Primary data source: non-estimated trade values from OECD-WTO BaTIS.",
    "Supplementary sources: UNCTAD-WTO Trade in Services Database, UN Comtrade, Eurostat, and other official sources.",
    "Objective: Enable analysis of bilateral services trade patterns over an extended time period by creating a consistent, harmonized research dataset.",
    "Application 1 — Gravity forces and trade composition:",
    "Application 2 — Geopolitical fissures and services resilience:",
    "Pages: 39",
    "Volume: 2025",
    "Issue: 163",
    "Series: Working Paper No. 2025/163",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229023030.001",
    "ISBN: 9798229023030",
    "**Working Paper**"
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