Special Economic and Free Trade Zones
A special economic zone changes the rules in one place to attract investment. Here is why China's worked and why...
International Trade and Economics
Explore the world of international trade and economics with our expert articles
Cross-Border Trade Finance Explained
Cross-border trade finance bridges the trust gap between a buyer and a seller who have never met. A letter of...
Rules of Origin and Trade Deflection
Rules of origin decide which goods qualify for tariff-free treatment in a trade deal. They exist to stop deflection through...
Trade Remedies: Anti-Dumping and Safeguards
Trade remedies are duties imposed after an investigation finds dumping, subsidies, or an import surge. Here is how the three...
Non-Tariff Barriers Explained
Quotas, licences, standards and procurement rules restrict trade without a tariff. The main types, how they are measured, and why...
Lerner Symmetry Theorem Explained
The Lerner symmetry theorem shows an import tariff and an export tax of the same rate have identical real effects....
Trade and the Skill Premium
Trade theory said opening up would narrow wage gaps in poor countries. It widened them. Here is what technology explains...
Effective Rate of Protection Formula
The effective rate of protection measures how much a tariff structure shelters an industry's value added. Here is the formula...
Trade and Inequality: From Stolper-Samuelson to the China Shock
Trade and inequality have been debated since Stolper-Samuelson in 1941. The China shock literature gave the debate empirical teeth and...
Iceberg Trade Costs and the Distance Puzzle: Why Trade Frictions Still Shape Globalization
Iceberg trade costs explain why distance still matters for trade even in a globalized world. The distance puzzle remains unresolved...