Title: Implementing a computable general equilibrium model with heterogenous firms and endogenous productivity

Authors: Roberto Roson; Kazuhiko Oyamada

Addresses: Department of Economics, Ca' Foscari University Venice 30121, Venice; IEFE Bocconi University, Milan 20136, Italy ' Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization, 261-8545 (Chiba), Japan

Abstract: This paper presents a computable general equilibrium model with trade-induced effects on industrial productivity and firm heterogeneity, based on Melitz (2003). Unlike the standard setting, our model considers multiple primary resources, different technologies, intermediate factors and input-output linkages. Implementation issues and calibration techniques are discussed. The inclusion of industries with heterogeneous firms in a CGE framework does not simply make the Melitz model 'operational', but allows accounting for structural effects that affect the nature, meaning and implications of the results. We illustrate the point through a numerical example, in which a standard neoclassic, a Melitz and a hybrid models are compared. The results show that the hybrid model displays the largest welfare gains from lower trade barriers, as it combines Ricardian comparative advantages with Melitz average productivity improvements. However, they also show that new effects, not present in the original Ricardo and Melitz frameworks, are at a work.

Keywords: computable general equilibrium; CGE models; Melitz; firm heterogeneity; international trade; endogenous productivity; industrial productivity; modelling; welfare gains; trade barriers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEE.2016.079535

International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics, 2016 Vol.6 No.4, pp.432 - 451

Received: 14 Sep 2015
Accepted: 23 Dec 2015
Published online: 30 Sep 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article