Working Papers

Trade Costs: What Have We Learned? A Synthesis Report

Understanding trade costs is essential for formulating policy interventions designed to reduce such costs. This report synthesises all OECD work on cost factors across the entire trade chain.

Related Documents

• Trade costs

Different Partners, Different Patterns: Trade and Labour Market Dynamics in Brazil's Post-Liberalisation Period

The extent to which external exposure of the Brazilian economy has contributed to employment is evaluated. Total employment variation was decomposed using the Input-Output Matrix methodology for the years 2000-07 to identify the contribution of the final demand components. The volume of direct employment associated with exports was then estimated according to worker's skill level and the geographical composition of Brazilian exports.

The Role of Services for Competitiveness in Manufacturing

What is the role of services in international merchandise trade, especially as new technology changes the way production is organised? This study analyses the relationship between competitiveness in manufacturing and the quality of key supporting services. Three primary indicators of competitiveness are considered: the degree of product differentiation, unit prices obtained in export markets and the duration of trade.

Cross-Border Trade in Electricity and the Development of Renewables-Based Electric Power: Lessons from Europe

To benefit fully from cross-border trade in electricity, interconnected countries need to establish a non-discriminatory trading regime based on co-operation and co-ordination, says this study of trade in renewables-based electric power in Europe.

State-Owned Enterprises: Trade Effects and Policy Implications

With a growing integration via trade and investment, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that have traditionally been oriented towards domestic markets increasingly compete with private firms in the global market place. This paper presents a conceptual discussion of how potential SOE advantages can generate cross-border effects.

Export Restrictions: Benefits of Transparency and Good Practices

Transparent trade legislation, policies and practices benefit governments and business alike by reducing uncertainty and transaction costs, simplifying procedures and encouraging investment. This paper studies the information published online by 33 countries on their export restriction policies in the minerals sector, and presents a checklist of best practices for addressing gaps in the availability and accessibility of information.

Mineral Resource Trade in Chile: Contribution to Development and Policy Implications

Instead of resorting to trade measures such as export restrictions, Chile manages its minerals sector through a combination of balanced taxation, stable investment measures, good management of tax revenue, exchange rate policy and initiatives aimed at producing a multiplier effect of economy-wide development, according to this study.

Trade Facilitation Indicators: The Potential Impact of Trade Facilitation on Developing Countries' Trade

Drawing on OECD trade facilitation indicators, this paper finds that the combined effect of comprehensive trade facilitation reform would reach almost 14.5% reduction of total trade costs for low income countries, 15.5% for lower middle income countries and 13.2% for upper middle income countries.

Le recul de la compétitivité des entreprises françaises reflète des déficiences générales du côté de l’offre Ce

Ce court document analyse la dégradation de la balance commerciale de la France depuis plus de quinze ans. Alors que la perte de parts de marché à l’exportation est comparable à celle des grands pays de l’OCDE à l’exception de l’Allemagne, elle est une des plus fortes des pays de la zone euro.

Also Available

• The declining competitiveness of French firms reflects a generalised supply-side problem

Trade and Labour Market Adjustment

Occupation-level analysis of short-term labour market impacts from trade can provide policy makers with better insights than industry-level studies, says this paper using a unique dataset based on harmonised labour force surveys from Canada, Israel, United Kingdom, United States, Brazil and South Africa. For instance, occupation-level data shows that imports can be associated with higher wages and a lower probability of unemployment.