Product Complexity, Quality of Institutions and the Pro-Trade Effect of Immigrants

Pierre-Philippe Combes, Miren Lafourcade and ,

No 7192, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The paper assesses the trade-creating impact of foreign-born residents on the international imports and exports of the French regions where they are settled. The pro-trade effect of immigrants is investigated along two intertwined dimensions: the complexity of traded goods and the quality of institutions in partner countries. The trade-enhancing impact of immigrants is, on average,more salient when they come froma country with weak institutions. However, this positive impact is especially large on the imports of simple products. When we turn to complex goods, for which the information channel conveyed by immigrants is the most valuable, immigration enhances imports regardless of the quality of institutions in the partner country. Regarding exports, immigrants substitute for weak institutions on both simple and complex goods.

Keywords: Gravity; Immigration; Product complexity; Quality of institutions; Trade (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F14 F22 R12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Product Complexity, Quality of Institutions and the Protrade Effect of Immigrants (2014)
Working Paper: Product Complexity, Quality of Institutions and the Pro-Trade Effect of Immigrants (2014)
Working Paper: Product Complexity, Quality of Institutions and the Pro-Trade Effect of Immigrants (2014)
Working Paper: PRODUCT COMPLEXITY, QUALITY OF INSTITUTIONS AND THE PRO-TRADE EFFECT OF IMMIGRANTS (2009)
Working Paper: Product complexity, quality of institutions and the pro-trade effect of immigrants (2009)
Working Paper: PRODUCT COMPLEXITY, QUALITY OF INSTITUTIONS AND THE PRO-TRADE EFFECT OF IMMIGRANTS (2009)
Working Paper: Product complexity, quality of institutions and the pro-trade effect of immigrants (2009)
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