Trade and Catching Up to the Industrial Leader

Abstract

We study the impact of trade on a country catching up to the industrial leader. We calibrate our dynamic, two-country model to Spain and UK from 1850 to 2000, accounting for the inter-war trade collapse (IWTC) and the subsequent catch up by Spain. In our model, the effects of trade disruptions are stronger with more distance to the leader and more openness. A collapse today (less distance, more openness) similar to the IWTC (more distance, less openness) decreases the capital stock thrice as much (12% instead of 4%). Importantly, traded varieties would fall today but increased during the IWTC.