The Role of Intermediaries in Facilitating Trade

JaeBin Ahn, Amit Khandelwal and Shang-Jin Wei

No 15706, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We provide systematic evidence that intermediaries play an important role in facilitating trade using a firm-level the census of China's exports. Intermediaries account for around 20% of China's exports in 2005. This implies that many firms engage in trade without directly exporting products. We modify a heterogeneous firm model so that firms endogenously select their mode of export - either directly or indirectly through an intermediary. The model predicts that intermediaries will be relatively more important in markets that are more difficult to penetrate. We provide empirical confirmation for this prediction, and generate new facts regarding the activity of intermediaries.

JEL-codes: F1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-ifn, nep-int and nep-tra
Note: ITI
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (43)

Published as Ahn, JaeBin & Khandelwal, Amit K. & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2011. "The role of intermediaries in facilitating trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 73-85, May.

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Journal Article: The role of intermediaries in facilitating trade (2011)
Working Paper: The Role of Intermediaries in Facilitating Trade (2010)
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