Towards a Theory of Trade Finance

Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr

No ECO2009/43, Economics Working Papers from European University Institute

Abstract: Cross border transactions are conducted using diffierent payment contracts, the usage of which varies across countries and over time. In this paper I build a model that can explain this observation and study implications from this for international trade. In the model exporters optimally choose payment contracts, trading off differences in enforcement and efficiency between financial markets in different countries. I find that the ability of firms to switch contracts is central to the reaction of trade to variations in financial conditions. Numerical experiments with a two-country version of the model suggest that limiting the choice between payment contracts reduces traded quantities by up to 60 percent.

Keywords: trade finance; payment contracts; trade patterns; financial crisis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F12 F3 G21 G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Towards a theory of trade finance (2013)
Working Paper: Towards a Theory of Trade Finance (2011)
Working Paper: Towards a Theory of Trade Finance (2011)
Working Paper: Towards a Theory of Trade Finance (2010)
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