In a recent blog post, we showed that shipping costs have substantially increased since the beginning of the pandemic and that such an increase was primarily associated with imports from Asia. In this new post, we explore whether and, if so, how such developments generated a domino effect on the transportation costs faced by Latin American and Caribbean countries … [Read more...] about How are Global Shipping Disruptions Affecting Latin American Freight Rates?
Christian Volpe Martincus
Christian Volpe Martincus is Principal Economist at the Integration and Trade Sector of the Inter-American Development Bank. Christian has expertise in international trade, foreign direct investment, regional integration, and economic geography, and has advised several governments in both Latin America and the Caribbean and OECD countries on these matters. He previously worked for the Ministry of the Economy of the Province of Buenos Aires and was advisor at the MERCOSUR Commission of the National Representatives Chamber in Argentina. In addition, he was researcher at the Center for European Integration Studies in Bonn, Germany. At the IDB Christian has been working on the impacts of trade and investment facilitation and promotion policies, e-commerce, the effects of transport costs on trade flows, the implications of integration for specialization patterns, and the interplay between innovation and exports (https://www.christianvolpe.com/). His research has been published in various professional journals such as the Journal of International Economics and the Journal of Development Economics among others. Christian has a PhD in Economics from the University of Bonn, and is CESifo Research Fellow and Associate Editor of the Review of International Economics.
Why Agricultural Exporters Should Consider Organic Certifications
Organic agriculture is a rapidly expanding market that can provide countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) with opportunities to differentiate their products and diversify their foreign sales away from commodities. To understand this potential, we examine the effects of organic certification on firms’ foreign sales. In so doing, we focus on two Latin American … [Read more...] about Why Agricultural Exporters Should Consider Organic Certifications
Can online platforms encourage women-owned firms in international trade? In the case of ConnectAmericas, yes
Can online platforms expand female-owned firms’ trade opportunities? Based on research using data from a business site in Latin America and the Caribbean, the answer is yes. This finding is important for the promotion of gender equality, one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and for the policymakers, practitioners, and researchers who are increasingly interested … [Read more...] about Can online platforms encourage women-owned firms in international trade? In the case of ConnectAmericas, yes
A Year and a Half into the Pandemic: How Did Cross-Border E-Commerce Evolve?
Cross-border e-commerce initially contracted in Uruguay because of the pandemic but started to show a pronounced recovery in mid-2020. Data on all credit and debit card purchases made abroad in the framework of the country’s franchise regime revealed that it decreased significantly between January and May 2020.[1] The aggregate annualized value of these purchases from Uruguay … [Read more...] about A Year and a Half into the Pandemic: How Did Cross-Border E-Commerce Evolve?
Why Are Shipping Costs Increasing? What US Import Data Tell Us
The cost of shipping goods has risen rapidly during the past 18 months. The average freight rate of US imports, based on cargo value, has gained a full percentage point relative to pre-pandemic levels (see Figure 1).[1] The average freight cost of a global 40-foot container has increased more than five times since the pandemic started, with routes such as Shanghai-to-Los … [Read more...] about Why Are Shipping Costs Increasing? What US Import Data Tell Us