Elasticity Optimism

Download or read book Elasticity Optimism written by Jean Imbs and published by INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. This book was released on 2009-12-01 with total page 45 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In most macroeconomic models, the substitutability between domestic and foreign goods is calibrated using aggregated data. This imposes homogeneous elasticities across goods, and the calibration is only valid under this assumption. If elasticities are heterogeneous, the aggregate substitutability is a weighted average of good-specific elasticities, which in general cannot be inferred from aggregated data. We identify structurally the substitutability in US goods using multilateral trade data. We impose homogeneity, and find an aggregate elasticity similar in value to conventional macroeconomic estimates. It is more than twice larger with sectoral heterogeneity. We discuss the implications in various areas of international economics.