Robert Zymek
@zymek.bsky.social
Senior Economist @IMFNews | Affiliate @CESifoNetwork | PhD @UPFBarcelona | Literally almost the last economist @repec_org | Research: trade & macro. Views: my own.
Reposted by Robert Zymek
Trade JMCs: Each year, I compile a list of international-trade job-market papers. To make sure you're on my list (& save me some work), please reply with your info in the following format:
Firstname Surname (School) - JMP title - homepageURL
[Spatial JMCs: reply to other post]
Firstname Surname (School) - JMP title - homepageURL
[Spatial JMCs: reply to other post]
November 5, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Trade JMCs: Each year, I compile a list of international-trade job-market papers. To make sure you're on my list (& save me some work), please reply with your info in the following format:
Firstname Surname (School) - JMP title - homepageURL
[Spatial JMCs: reply to other post]
Firstname Surname (School) - JMP title - homepageURL
[Spatial JMCs: reply to other post]
Reposted by Robert Zymek
Nan Li, Sergii Meleshchuk, & @zymek.bsky.social introduce the new Bilateral Trade in Services (BiTS) database, which tracks services flows between countries over time and at the detailed sector level. They document a declining distance elasticity for services trade.
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
#EconSky
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
#EconSky
October 14, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Nan Li, Sergii Meleshchuk, & @zymek.bsky.social introduce the new Bilateral Trade in Services (BiTS) database, which tracks services flows between countries over time and at the detailed sector level. They document a declining distance elasticity for services trade.
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
#EconSky
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
#EconSky
The analysis in our chapter is based on a new database on bilateral services trade which we have been compiling for the past year. We expect to publish it for others to use later this summer.
June 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The analysis in our chapter is based on a new database on bilateral services trade which we have been compiling for the past year. We expect to publish it for others to use later this summer.
However, it appears that trade in modern services (the fastest-growing portion of international services trade) is most vulnerable to geoeconomic fragmentation. This could emerge as a headwind for services globalisation going forward.
June 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
However, it appears that trade in modern services (the fastest-growing portion of international services trade) is most vulnerable to geoeconomic fragmentation. This could emerge as a headwind for services globalisation going forward.
We find that - in contrast with goods trade - the answer is: no (so far!).
June 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
We find that - in contrast with goods trade - the answer is: no (so far!).
My colleague Nan Li and I contributed a chapter on services trade. We ask: is there evidence that geopolitical alignments are reshaping bilateral trade in services? (In IMF parlance: is there “geoeconomic fragmentation” in services?)
June 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
My colleague Nan Li and I contributed a chapter on services trade. We ask: is there evidence that geopolitical alignments are reshaping bilateral trade in services? (In IMF parlance: is there “geoeconomic fragmentation” in services?)
CEPR today released a new eBook on “The State of Globalisation” (edited by @baldwinre.bsky.social and Michele Ruta). It explores how technology, policy and geopolitics are transforming globalisation: cepr.org/voxeu/column...
The state of globalisation: A new eBook
Three forces have always shaped globalisation – technology, policies, and geopolitics. What distinguishes the current moment is that all three are accelerating simultaneously but in different directions. This column introduces a new eBook showing how this divergent acceleration creates transformation rather than retreat from globalisation. But it also generates acute tension between rapidly changing economic flows and policies and slowly adapting institutions, creating fragmentation risks. Nevertheless, the multilateral system's embedded flexibility, economic value, and proven historical capacity for adaptation offer pathways towards cooperative solutions.
cepr.org
June 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
CEPR today released a new eBook on “The State of Globalisation” (edited by @baldwinre.bsky.social and Michele Ruta). It explores how technology, policy and geopolitics are transforming globalisation: cepr.org/voxeu/column...
Full report: www.imf.org/en/Publicati...
World Economic Outlook, April 2025: A Critical Juncture amid Policy Shifts
The latest World Economic Outlook reports a slowdown in global growth as downside risks intensify. While policy shifts unfold and uncertainties reach new highs, policies need to be calibrated to rebal...
www.imf.org
April 22, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Full report: www.imf.org/en/Publicati...
📈IMF April WEO📉:
2025 global growth forecast would have been 3.2% pre-April 2 (down just 0.1 from January). It is 2.8% given the post-April 2 trade policy announcements. Even if all “tariff pauses” become permanent, global growth remains at 2.8% (but differently distributed across countries).
2025 global growth forecast would have been 3.2% pre-April 2 (down just 0.1 from January). It is 2.8% given the post-April 2 trade policy announcements. Even if all “tariff pauses” become permanent, global growth remains at 2.8% (but differently distributed across countries).
April 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
📈IMF April WEO📉:
2025 global growth forecast would have been 3.2% pre-April 2 (down just 0.1 from January). It is 2.8% given the post-April 2 trade policy announcements. Even if all “tariff pauses” become permanent, global growth remains at 2.8% (but differently distributed across countries).
2025 global growth forecast would have been 3.2% pre-April 2 (down just 0.1 from January). It is 2.8% given the post-April 2 trade policy announcements. Even if all “tariff pauses” become permanent, global growth remains at 2.8% (but differently distributed across countries).
Reposted by Robert Zymek
I stand corrected. The formula is not deficit/imports. The formula is surplus/(imports * ε * φ), where ε = -4 and φ = 0.25. That happens to equal deficits/imports.
ustr.gov/issue-areas/...
via @ericadyork.bsky.social
ustr.gov/issue-areas/...
via @ericadyork.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I stand corrected. The formula is not deficit/imports. The formula is surplus/(imports * ε * φ), where ε = -4 and φ = 0.25. That happens to equal deficits/imports.
ustr.gov/issue-areas/...
via @ericadyork.bsky.social
ustr.gov/issue-areas/...
via @ericadyork.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Zymek
🚨New data alert!
A beta version of the Global Tariff Database is now available! 🔗https://feodorateti.github.io
🔎If you're looking for cross-country data on bilateral tariffs, this might help you.
A beta version of the Global Tariff Database is now available! 🔗https://feodorateti.github.io
🔎If you're looking for cross-country data on bilateral tariffs, this might help you.
March 11, 2025 at 5:34 PM
🚨New data alert!
A beta version of the Global Tariff Database is now available! 🔗https://feodorateti.github.io
🔎If you're looking for cross-country data on bilateral tariffs, this might help you.
A beta version of the Global Tariff Database is now available! 🔗https://feodorateti.github.io
🔎If you're looking for cross-country data on bilateral tariffs, this might help you.
Reposted by Robert Zymek
1/ 📢 New paper alert! 📄 Together with Vitalii Tubdenov, we propose a measure of the "Average Period of Production" (APP) to capture the temporal dimension of production processes. It is inspired by Böhm-Bawerk’s capital theory.
February 13, 2025 at 2:15 PM
1/ 📢 New paper alert! 📄 Together with Vitalii Tubdenov, we propose a measure of the "Average Period of Production" (APP) to capture the temporal dimension of production processes. It is inspired by Böhm-Bawerk’s capital theory.
Reposted by Robert Zymek
Today marks the 180th anniversary of the birth of great Irish/Oxford economist Francis Ysidro Edgeworth.
Most remembered now by students for the Edgeworth Box, he was the founding editor of the Economic Journal and is buried less than 400 feet from the Economics Dept with a beautiful Celtic cross.
Most remembered now by students for the Edgeworth Box, he was the founding editor of the Economic Journal and is buried less than 400 feet from the Economics Dept with a beautiful Celtic cross.
February 8, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Today marks the 180th anniversary of the birth of great Irish/Oxford economist Francis Ysidro Edgeworth.
Most remembered now by students for the Edgeworth Box, he was the founding editor of the Economic Journal and is buried less than 400 feet from the Economics Dept with a beautiful Celtic cross.
Most remembered now by students for the Edgeworth Box, he was the founding editor of the Economic Journal and is buried less than 400 feet from the Economics Dept with a beautiful Celtic cross.
Reposted by Robert Zymek
Trade talks is back! Scientific insights on trade: tradetalkspodcast.com
Trade Talks
Trade Talks, with Chad P. Bown. A podcast about the economics of trade and policy.
tradetalkspodcast.com
February 8, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Trade talks is back! Scientific insights on trade: tradetalkspodcast.com
Nice chart by @chrisgiles.ft.com putting the scale of President Trump‘s tariff announcements in historical context. www.ft.com/content/c2e4...
February 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Nice chart by @chrisgiles.ft.com putting the scale of President Trump‘s tariff announcements in historical context. www.ft.com/content/c2e4...
Reposted by Robert Zymek
The adverse effects of trade and globalization have become politically salient in a way that many of the other determinants of inequality have not. | Trade and Inequality | The IFS-Deaton Review | all open access | academic.oup.com/ooec/article...
Trade and globalization
Greater openness to international trade has had significant impacts on the structure of the UK and other advanced economies. The role that this greater ope
academic.oup.com
February 2, 2025 at 11:32 PM
The adverse effects of trade and globalization have become politically salient in a way that many of the other determinants of inequality have not. | Trade and Inequality | The IFS-Deaton Review | all open access | academic.oup.com/ooec/article...
Reposted by Robert Zymek
Modern supply chains don't look like trade theory 101!
They involve constant border crossings, each now hit by tariffs.
Tariffs raise prices, but the more important thing they do is disrupt supply relationships.
1/
They involve constant border crossings, each now hit by tariffs.
Tariffs raise prices, but the more important thing they do is disrupt supply relationships.
1/
February 2, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Modern supply chains don't look like trade theory 101!
They involve constant border crossings, each now hit by tariffs.
Tariffs raise prices, but the more important thing they do is disrupt supply relationships.
1/
They involve constant border crossings, each now hit by tariffs.
Tariffs raise prices, but the more important thing they do is disrupt supply relationships.
1/
Reposted by Robert Zymek
New at JIE: "Changing global linkages: A new Cold War?" by Gita Gopinath, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas (@pgourinchas.bsky.social), Andrea F. Presbitero, Petia Topalova
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104042
January 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
New at JIE: "Changing global linkages: A new Cold War?" by Gita Gopinath, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas (@pgourinchas.bsky.social), Andrea F. Presbitero, Petia Topalova
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104042
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinteco.2024.104042
Reposted by Robert Zymek
CALL FOR PAPERS!
What: Workshop on Growth, Trade and Geography
Where: BSE Summer Forum, Barcelona
When: June 10-11, 2025
Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025
events.bse.eu/live/files/5...
I hope to see many of you there!!! Please circulate!
What: Workshop on Growth, Trade and Geography
Where: BSE Summer Forum, Barcelona
When: June 10-11, 2025
Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025
events.bse.eu/live/files/5...
I hope to see many of you there!!! Please circulate!
events.bse.eu
January 22, 2025 at 11:16 AM
CALL FOR PAPERS!
What: Workshop on Growth, Trade and Geography
Where: BSE Summer Forum, Barcelona
When: June 10-11, 2025
Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025
events.bse.eu/live/files/5...
I hope to see many of you there!!! Please circulate!
What: Workshop on Growth, Trade and Geography
Where: BSE Summer Forum, Barcelona
When: June 10-11, 2025
Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025
events.bse.eu/live/files/5...
I hope to see many of you there!!! Please circulate!
Conventional wisdom seems to be that for many important services (think tourism!) the exporter has much better information about the extent/value than the importer.
January 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Conventional wisdom seems to be that for many important services (think tourism!) the exporter has much better information about the extent/value than the importer.
Unlike with goods, there is no customs data on which to base services trade statistics - just firm surveys, the methodology of which may not be consistent across countries. And the extent to which they capture the “truth” may not be symmetric between the importer and exporter.
January 20, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Unlike with goods, there is no customs data on which to base services trade statistics - just firm surveys, the methodology of which may not be consistent across countries. And the extent to which they capture the “truth” may not be symmetric between the importer and exporter.
“That will require transformational reforms to lift productivity. In many countries, resources—including workers and capital—simply aren't flowing to the most dynamic firms, dragging average global productivity growth down by 0.6 percentage points annually.” www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | To restore global growth, ease barriers for entrepreneurs
The United States leads the world in the efficiency of its economy. The world can catch up.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
“That will require transformational reforms to lift productivity. In many countries, resources—including workers and capital—simply aren't flowing to the most dynamic firms, dragging average global productivity growth down by 0.6 percentage points annually.” www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
I used to teach the history of the gravity equation in trade - but was oblivious to the long history of gravity in urban/spatial economics (until I worked on gravity and the spread of Covid-19 with Ale Cuñat: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...)
January 13, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I used to teach the history of the gravity equation in trade - but was oblivious to the long history of gravity in urban/spatial economics (until I worked on gravity and the spread of Covid-19 with Ale Cuñat: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...)
