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North, South and Distance in the Gravity Model

Author

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  • Melitz, Jacques
Abstract
It is generally assumed that distance in the gravity model strictly reflects frictions impeding bilateral trade. However, distances North-South could also reflect differences in factor endowment that provide opportunities for profitable trade. This paper investigates the hypothesis that if we control for distance in the ordinary sense, differences North-South promote international trade. The hypothesis receives ample support. Moreover, the significance of differences North-South survives a battery of robustness tests, concerning period, distinctions between differences in latitude North-North, North-South and South-South, and controls for other measures of differences in factor endowment, such as differences in per capita output and differences in average temperature, rainfall, and seasonal range in temperature. The impact of differences North-South on bilateral trade has also been falling. This decline, in turn, might be partly responsible for the weakening of the influence of distance that has been occurring since World War II. This last hypothesis receives confirmation as well. Finally, the paper studies two country-specific aspects of distance: internal distance and remoteness. It does so by examining the impact of both on the country fixed effects themselves: that is, those that emerged earlier. Internal distance turns out to have a far greater impact than remoteness ? by an order of ten.

Suggested Citation

  • Melitz, Jacques, 2005. "North, South and Distance in the Gravity Model," CEPR Discussion Papers 5136, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:5136
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gravity; Bilateral trade; Distance; Remoteness; Comparative advantage; North-south trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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