Data for: How geography affects quality

Abstract of associated article: This paper connects the quality of product-level bilateral trade flows with the geographic position of the exporter. Theoretically we show that, in addition to commonly used importer characteristics, quality increases (i) in trade-weighted specific transportation cost to destinations other than the importer and (ii) in trade-weighted preference for quality of destinations other than the importer. These two channels extend the familiar Alchian–Allen and Linder theories to the multilateral setting.The data confirm the theoretical prediction. Non-OECD exporters who face a stronger demand for quality from richer countries charge about 10% more for all destinations. At the same time, countries whose demand is especially distorted by the Alchian–Allen effect charge 58% more. Moreover, geography is more significant to the quality choice of developing countries. Multilateral geographic factors explain 13% of the price variation for non-OECD exporters, 3% for small OECD exporters, and are not significant for OECD exporters overall.相关论文摘要：本研究将产品层面双边贸易流量的质量与出口国的地理位置相关联。理论分析表明，除常用的进口国特征外，产品质量会随以下两个因素提升：(i) 针对非本次进口目的国、按贸易额加权的单位运输成本；(ii) 针对非本次进口目的国、按贸易额加权的质量偏好。这两个渠道将经典的阿尔钦-艾伦（Alchian–Allen）定理与林德（Linder）理论拓展至多边贸易场景。实证数据验证了本研究的理论预测。面临来自高收入国家更强质量需求的非经合组织（OECD）出口商，对所有目的国的定价平均高出约10%。与此同时，需求受阿尔钦-艾伦效应扭曲程度较高的国家，其定价平均高出58%。此外，地理位置对发展中国家的质量选择决策影响更为显著。多边地理因素可解释非经合组织出口商13%的价格波动，小型经合组织出口商的这一比例为3%，而整体经合组织出口商则无显著影响。