Economics Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing Economics Theses and Dissertations by Author "Blonigen, Bruce"

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    Essays on International Trade
    (University of Oregon, 2020-09-24) Sytsma, Tobias; Blonigen, Bruce
    Through trade policy actions, decades of global trade liberalization have resulted in lower formal trade barriers. However, there remain significant barriers to trade that fall outside the realm of traditional policy tools. This dissertation analyzes two under-studied non-tariff trade barriers: natural disasters and rules of origin. While there are fundamental differences in how these trade barriers arise, both natural disasters and rules of origin have meaningful implications for the functioning of global trade systems, the formation of global value chains, and consumer welfare. The three essays in this dissertation provide evidence that these under-studied trade barriers have a significant impact on trade flows. In Chapter II, I find that rules of origin liberalization can restore preferential market access and improve firm-level export growth in least-developed countries (LDCs). In Chapter III, I find evidence that hurricanes reduce trade volumes from US ports, and that the effect is highly persistent. Finally, in Chapter IV, using detailed data on international shipments, I show that hurricane activity around US ports-of-exit affects aggregate exports through price indices, and as a result, affects average consumer welfare. In the case of rules of origin, the results highlight the crucial role that non-tariff barriers play in the formation of trade agreements. In the case of natural disasters, the findings presented in this dissertation highlight the importance of designing policy aimed at addressing unexpected shocks to global trade.