Pricing-to-Market and the Failure of Absolute PPP

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics
Year: 2011
Volume: 3
Issue: 1
Pages: 91-127

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We show that deviations from the law of one price in tradable goods are an important source of violations of absolute purchasing power parity. Using highly disaggregated export data, we document systematic international price discrimination: at the US dock, low-income countries pay lower prices. This pricing-to-market is about twice as important as local nontraded inputs for differences in tradable prices. We propose a model of consumer search and pricing-to-market in which consumers in low-income countries have a comparative advantage in nontraded, nonmarket search activities. Evidence from cross-country time-use studies and US export prices supports the model. (JEL E31, F14)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejmac:v:3:y:2011:i:1:p:91-127
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24