Search Results
Discussion Paper
Understanding Trade Fragmentation
A large empirical literature, including Gopinath et al. (2025), finds that geopolitical distance has become an increasingly important determinant of bilateral trade flows. This work has fueled debate about the consequences of fragmentation and the extent to which global value chains are being reshaped.
Working Paper
Partner Similarity and The Sectoral Evolution of China's Trade
We study how the sectoral composition of exports and imports shapes bilateral trade flows. Building on earlier similarity indices, we introduce the Partner Similarity Index (PSI), which measures sectoral alignment between a country’s export structure and its partner’s import demand. Embedded in a gravity framework, PSI is a strong predictor of bilateral trade flows after accounting for standard gravity determinants, trade policy variables, and high-dimensional fixed effects. Applied to China and advanced economies, the index reveals growing asymmetries: China’s export basket is ...
From Partner to Rival: Understanding China’s Technological Rise through Patent Data
A new measure of patent similarity shows China shifting its international patents toward technology-intensive industries traditionally dominated by developed nations.
Working Paper
Expanding the Labor Market Lens: Two New Eurozone Labor Indicators
We present a principal component analysis of euro area labor market conditions by combining information from 22 labor market indicators into two comprehensive series. These two novel indicators provide a systematic view of the current state and forward-looking direction of the euro-area labor market, respectively, and demonstrate superior forecasting performance compared to existing indicators. Crucially, we find significant implications for monetary policy design: a local projection analysis reveals that ECB monetary policy shocks have attenuated effects on both inflation and unemployment ...
Discussion Paper
An investigation into the economic slowdown in the euro area
Euro-area economic performance has been subdued since around 2018, and especially so in more recent years. As discussed in both Enrico Letta's and Mario Draghi's reports, the euro area economy faces notable structural challenges that were exacerbated by the pandemic and the disruption to energy markets that ensued from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Working Paper
The Design and Effect of Tariff Retaliation: Evidence from the European Union
We show that the EU's 2018 retaliation against US steel and aluminum tariffs targeted goods with low US import dependence and high substitutability. For the majority of tariffed goods, the US share of EU imports declined notably and remained below pre-2018 levels even after the retaliatory tariffs were lifted, reflecting asymmetric effects of tariffs on trade diversion. Moreover, although the retaliatory tariffs were instantly and fully passed through to EU importers, the retaliation did not lead to domestic price pressures as we find no evidence for inflationary effects on consumer and ...
Discussion Paper
The Sectoral Evolution of China’s Trade
Since 2018, Chinese officials have been emphasizing the need for China to achieve greater self-reliance. As discussed in de Soyres and Moore (2024), China has reduced its reliance on imported inputs, while simultaneously becoming more dependent on foreign demand to absorb its manufactured goods. In this Note, we look at the evolution of the sectoral composition of China's exports and imports and investigate its similarity with the sectoral composition of the trade baskets of advanced economies (AEs). First, using a gravity model, we show that bilateral trade flows are significantly influenced ...
Discussion Paper
China’s Trade Dominance and the Role of Industrial Policies
China's trade surplus surged to a record $1.2 trillion in 2025, exceeding 6% of its GDP, marking a new milestone in its integration into, and dominance of, the global trading system. This development has attracted heightened attention from policymakers and analysts, not only because of the sheer size of the surplus, but also because of growing concerns about the distribution of global manufacturing, the persistence of global external imbalances, and the role of industrial policy interventions in shaping trade outcomes.