Markups, quality, and transport costs

B-Tier
Journal: European Economic Review
Year: 2012
Volume: 56
Issue: 4
Pages: 777-791

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence on trade prices based on firm-level data from France. It shows that firms charge higher free-on-board (net of transportation costs, hereafter noted as fob) unit values on exports to more distant countries. This finding holds within firms and products, and across destinations. The price premium paid by distant consumers is due to firms charging higher fob prices, and to higher transportation costs. A simple decomposition of the elasticity of import prices to distance shows that, after a fall in transport costs, almost 80% of the decline in import prices enjoyed by consumers is due to firms charging lower fob prices. This suggests a new channel through which changes in transport costs may affect welfare.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:eecrev:v:56:y:2012:i:4:p:777-791
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-26