Trade space and trade policy: an empirical assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 498-520
Author(s):  
Sena Kimm Gnangnon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavior of governments in terms of trade policy design when they experience a lack of foreign resources from international trade after ensuring the sustainability of their external debt. To do so, the paper defines two concepts of trade space: “De Facto Trade Space” and “De Jure trade space.” Design/methodology/approach To conduct this study, the author relies on a panel data set comprising 109 countries over the period 1998–2014. To perform the empirical analysis, the author has mainly used the system generalized methods of moments approach. Findings The empirical analysis suggests evidence that trade space matters significantly for trade policy. Indeed, “De Facto Trade Space” is consistently associated with greater trade policy liberalization, with this positive effect being higher, the higher the development level – proxied by the real per capita income – of the concerned country. “De Jure Trade Space” tends to lead to greater trade policy liberalization in less advanced developing countries, but is associated with the adoption of trade restrictive measures in more advanced countries. Additionally, results suggest different impacts on trade policy of “Positive De Jure Trade Space” and “Negative De Jure Trade Space.” Research limitations/implications These findings suggest that the trade space, as defined in this study, plays a key role in trade policy design by policymakers. Practical implications The current study shows that trade space could significantly matter for trade policy design by policymakers. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the study dealing directly with the “trade space” concept as well as its impact on trade policy.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Kimm Gnangnon

PurposeThis paper investigates the effect of the volatility of resource revenue on the volatility of non-resource revenue.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical analysis has utilized an unbalanced panel data set comprising 54 countries over the period 1980–2015. The two-step system generalized methods of moments (GMM) is the main economic approach used to carry out the empirical analysis.FindingsResults show that resource revenue volatility generates lower non-resource revenue volatility only when the share of resource revenue in total public revenue is lower than 18%. Otherwise, higher resource revenue volatility would result in a rise in non-resource revenue volatility.Research limitations/implicationsIn light of the adverse effect of volatility of non-resource revenue on public spending, and hence on economic growth and development prospects, countries whose total public revenue is highly dependent on resource revenue should adopt appropriate policies to ensure the rise in non-resource revenue, as well as the stability of the latter.Practical implicationsEconomic diversification in resource-rich countries (particularly in developing countries among them) could contribute to reducing the dependence of economies on natural resources, and hence the dependence of public revenue on resource revenue. Therefore, policies in favour of economic diversification would contribute to stabilizing non-resource revenue, which is essential for financing development needs.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this topic has not been addressed in the literature.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sèna Kimm Gnangnon

This article investigates the effect of aid-for-trade (AfT) inflows on beneficiary-countries’ export structure. It additionally examines whether this effect depends on recipient-countries’ level of trade policy liberalisation. Export structure is measured by the ratio of exports of low-skilled and technology-intensive manufactures to total primary export products (LOW), the ratio of exports of medium-skilled and technology-intensive manufactures to total primary export products (MEDIUM) and the ratio of exports of high-skilled and technology-intensive manufactures to total primary export products (HIGH). The analysis has been carried out using an unbalanced panel data set of 121 countries (of which 41 least-developed countries [LDCs]) over the period 2002–2015. Using the two-step generalised methods of moments (GMM) approach, the empirical results show that AfT inflows exert a positive and significant impact on recipient countries’ export ratios LOW and HIGH, but not on the MEDIUM export ratio. For LDCs, AfT inflows influence positively LOW and negatively MEDIUM and HIGH. Furthermore, for both the full sample and LDCs, there is a strong positive effect of the cumulative AfT inflows on the three export ratios. Finally, the effect of AfT inflows on export ratios appears to be dependent on the degree of trade policy liberalisation. JEL: F13, F14, F35, O24


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuan Luu

Purpose The interaction between opening and closing behaviors of ambidextrous leadership produces “change” force throughout the organization in proactive response to market forces. This research aims to assess the role of ambidextrous leadership in fostering entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and market responsiveness. The research also seeks an insight into how external supply chain integration moderates the positive effect of EO on market responsiveness. Design/methodology/approach Research data were collected from 327 meso-level managers and 517 subordinates from chemical manufacturing companies in the Vietnam business context. Findings Research findings shed light on the positive effect of ambidextrous leadership on EO, which in turn contributes to market responsiveness. The moderation role that external supply chain integration plays on the EO–market responsiveness linkage was also grounded on the data set. Originality/value Through the identification of the predictive roles of ambidextrous leadership and EO for market responsiveness, the current research indicates the convergence between leadership, EO and market responsiveness research streams.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nderitu Githaiga

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether revenue diversification affects the financial sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs).Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a worldwide panel data set of 443 MFIs in 108 countries for the period 2013–2018 and two-step system Generalized Method of Moments estimation model.FindingsThe study finds that revenue diversification has a significant and positive effect on the financial sustainability of MFIs.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study actually offer important managerial and policy lessons on MFIs’ financial sustainability. Microfinance managers and policymakers should consider revenue diversification as a strategy through which MFIs can attain financial sustainability instead of overreliance on donations and government subsidiesOriginality/valueUnlike previous studies that examined revenue diversification in the context of banking firms, this study contributes to literature by examining the impact of revenue diversification of the financial sustainability of MFIs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 447-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tihana Škrinjarić ◽  
Boško Šego

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically evaluate risk spillovers between selected CESEE (Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe) stock markets in order to evaluate the possibilities of an international diversification of a portfolio. Design/methodology/approach The VAR model and the Diebold and Yilmaz (2009, 2012) spillover index are used, with rolling indices estimation over time in order to observe dynamics, which is important for investment strategies. Data are monthly and include selected CESEE stock market indices which were available to the researcher. Findings The empirical analysis for the period of January 2012–June 2019 indicates that some country risks were the net emitter of shocks in the system (Slovenia and Czech Republic), whereas some were net receivers (Croatia and Ukraine). The results are robust with respect to changing the length of the rolling window analysis, which means that investors could utilize such an approach in a dynamic portfolio selection. Research limitations/implications Observing only selected markets due to data (un)availability. Practical implications The paper shows how international investors can utilize the aforementioned methodology in order to make a more detailed analysis of the dynamics of stock markets connectedness so that international portfolios can be rebalanced according to the results and investors’ preferences. Originality/value This is the first such research which focuses on CESEE countries, since existing research is focused on more developed stock markets. Moreover, the empirical analysis extends to commenting the pairwise net indices over time, which is important for the dynamic portfolio rebalancing over time.


Economies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Gnangnon ◽  
Jean-François Brun

This paper investigates the impact of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue, using an unbalanced panel dataset comprising 57 countries, including both developed and developing countries, over the period 1995–2015. By means of the two-step system Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) estimator, the empirical analysis suggests that multilateral trade liberalization exerts a negative effect on resource revenue, probably at the benefit of non-resource revenue. However, this effect over the full sample hides a positive effect of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue in poorest countries, and a negative effect of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue in non-poorest countries of the sample. Additionally, the negative effect of multilateral trade liberalization on resource revenue over the full sample appears to be dependent on the degree of domestic trade liberalization. In fact, multilateral trade liberalization genuinely induces a reducing effect on resource revenue only if countries liberalize their domestic trade regime beyond a minimum level.


2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (7) ◽  
pp. 1365-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina De Simone ◽  
Mariangela Bonasia ◽  
Giuseppe Lucio Gaeta ◽  
Lorenzo Cicatiello

Purpose Making citizens able to monitor and evaluate public spending activities is a fundamental issue in public financial management literature. The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether fiscal transparency, measured by the Open Budget Index, has an effect on public spending performance, measured by the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report data. Design/methodology/approach Research methods rely on random-effects panel regression models on a country-level panel data set of 82 world countries observed in the 2008–2015 time interval. Findings Results show that the potential positive effects of fiscal transparency are mediated by the level of democracy of the country. In detail, in democratic countries, a higher degree of disclosure of fiscal information is correlated with a higher efficiency of government spending while, in non-democratic countries, fiscal transparency does not seem to provide any effect. Social implications The results suggest that fiscal transparency can be a powerful device where politicians can be held accountable for their actions, while it could fail to provide positive results where a strong and effective vertical accountability is missing. Originality/value The novelty of the paper is twofold. First, it provides new additional evidence about the positive effect that fiscal transparency has on public spending efficiency by advancing previous research on this topic (Porumbescu, 2017; Montes et al., 2019). Second, the paper investigates conceptually and empirically how the positive effect on public spending efficiency determined by fiscal transparency depends on the degree of democracy present in the institutional environment in which fiscal information disclosure is implemented.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keita Masuya ◽  
Eisuke Yoshida

Purpose This study aims to reconceptualize performance evaluation styles and reveal their performance effects. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review, this study conceptualizes performance evaluation styles on two dimensions: priority of budgetary targets when setting performance criteria and use of accounting information for ex-post performance evaluation. This study discusses two concepts – budget rigidity and discretionary adjustments – to explain these two dimensions, and their optimal combination is then investigated by considering environmental uncertainty. The empirical analysis uses survey data from Japanese firms. Findings The results indicate that suitable combinations of budget rigidity and discretionary adjustments differ depending on environmental uncertainty. As expected, a combination of lower budget rigidity and higher discretionary adjustments is optimal in an uncertain environment. Contrary to expectations, a combination of higher budget rigidity and higher discretionary adjustments is optimal in a stable environment. Moreover, higher discretionary adjustments complement budgetary targets’ motivational effects, regardless of environmental uncertainty. Originality/value This study’s theoretical and empirical analysis suggests that it is difficult to understand the performance implications of performance evaluation styles without recognizing their multidimensionality and interdependencies. Moreover, the results demonstrate that discretionary adjustments in budget-based performance evaluations seem to act rationally in practice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 811-832
Author(s):  
Zelong Wei ◽  
Linqian Zhang

Purpose In spite of the significance of the strategic change, its high rate of failure inspires us to explore how to successfully enact new strategic change in a different environment. Based on strategy as practice perspective and effectuation theory, this study aims to extend extant literature by identifying two approaches performing strategic change (e.g. causation strategic change or effectuation strategic change) and investigating their effects on firm performance and also boundary conditions (e.g. market uncertainty or technological uncertainty). Design/methodology/approach Based on a data set from 238 firms in China, the authors empirically test the hypotheses through regression analysis. Findings The findings indicate that causation and effectuation strategic changes can promote firm performance. However, the roles of the two approaches vary with the external environment. Specifically, market uncertainty strengthens while technological uncertainty weakens the positive effect of causation strategic change. In contrast, technological uncertainty strengthens the positive effect of effectuation strategic change on firm performance. Originality/value This study extends research literature of strategic change by identifying causation and effectuation strategic changes and investigating how their roles vary with market uncertainty and technological uncertainty. The findings guide firms to adopt a fit approach to perform a strategic change in different external environments.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolly Gaur ◽  
Dipti Ranjan Mohapatra

PurposeIn recent years, the Indian banking sector is facing a major cause of concern in the form of Nonperforming Assets (NPA), and the priority sector lending (PSL) is generally recognized as the major factor contributing to it. Thus, the present study has been carried out with the objective of examining the relationship between priority sector lending and GDP growth. Thereafter, the role of PSL and certain other bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic variables in determining NPA has been studied.Design/methodology/approachTaking a sample of 45 scheduled commercial banks, the study has been carried out for 14 years (2004–2018). Granger causality between PSL and GDP has been examined by applying the Dumitrescu-Hurlin test. For the purpose of investigating the impact of PSL and other determinants on NPA, both static and dynamic panel regression have been performed. Under the dynamic panel, system generalized methods of moments (S-GMM) approach has been followed.FindingsThe findings show that there exists a positive correlation and bidirectional causal relationship between PSL and GDP, which implies that PSL brings additional growth for the whole economy. In addition to it, PSL is found to be insignificant for the NPA ratio, and thus, it can be inferred that credit extended to government-specified sectors does not bring any major increase in the bad loan portfolio of banks.Practical implicationsThe policymakers and bank management can take a cue from the findings of this study to decrease the exposure to loan nonrepayment issue. The priority sectors are in need of formal credit for their growth, and since the rising population of the country can find employment in these sectors, banks should meet their credit needs while securing their position with regard to the NPA problem.Originality/valueThe issue of NPA determinants, and in particular, the contribution of priority sector lending in it has not been much explored for Indian banking sector. Also, the present study adds to the literature by using the causality approach for examining the importance of directed credit schemes for economic growth.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document