Estimating Import Demand Function in Developing Countries: A Structural Econometric Approach with Applications to India and Sri Lanka

M. Shahe Emran and Forhad Shilpi

Working Papers from The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy

Abstract: Due to the unavailability of time series data on domestic market clearing price of imports, the estimation ofnotional price and income elasticities of aggregate import demand remains a daunting task for a large number of developing countries. This paper develops a structural econometric model of a two goods representative agent economy that incorporates a binding foreign exchange constraint at the administered prices of imports. A theoretically consistent parameterization of the virtual relative price of imports circumvents the data problem, and thus enables the estimation of income and price responses by cointegration approach. The price and income elasticity estimates for India and Sri Lanka, in contrast to the extant literature, have correct signs, high statistical significance, and plausible magnitudes.

Keywords: Import Demand; Foreign Exchange Rationing; Virtual price; India; Sri Lanka; Cointegration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F14 O16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2008-07
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Estimating an Import Demand Function in Developing Countries: A Structural Econometric Approach with Applications to India and Sri Lanka (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gwi:wpaper:2008-10

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