Join Feodora Teti as she explo res how misreported tariff data impacts trade policy studies and introduces selection bias.
Many studies use tariff data to measure ch anges in trade policy. This paper reveals significant errors in one of the standard sources for tariff rates\, the World Integrated Trade Solution (WI TS)\, due to incomplete reporting—resulting in measurement errors from fa lse interpolation—and selection bias from dropping tariff rates when no t rade is recorded. A new interpolation algorithm is proposed to account for misreporting\, and the resulting global tariff dataset is used to demonstra te the practical relevance of missing tariffs by replicating recent studies that rely on WITS data. The findings show that studies leveraging cross-co untry tariff variation\, such as estimates of trade elasticity\, are partic ularly sensitive to the mishandling of tariff data. This event is co-organ ised with the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) an d the Research Centre International Economics (FIW). The seminar provides a forum for presentation and discussion of recent academic research in the field of international economics. This event will be recorded. SUMMARY:Seminar in International Economics: Missing tariffs -Errors in tariff data and their impact on trade policy studies ORGANIZER:FIW URL;VALUE=URI:https://www.fiw.ac.at/en/event/seminar-in-international-economics-missing-t ariffs-errors-in-tariff-data-and-their-impact-on-trade-policy-studies/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20241112 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Seminar in International Economics: Missing tariffs -Errors in tariff data and their impact on trade policy studies END:VALARM END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR