Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/55612 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
Working Papers No. 04-8
Publisher: 
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston, MA
Abstract: 
In this paper, we show that incomplete markets lead to trade imbalances. We use a two-period general equilibrium model with countries composed of heterogeneous households. We look at a world where, when markets are complete, countries engage in balanced trade; and we show that when some of those markets are absent, trade imbalances emerge. Market incompleteness across countries causes trade imbalances because national income in some countries is more sensitive to risky asset payoffs than in others. Market incompleteness within countries causes trade imbalances because superior risk-sharing in one country leads to a lower precautionary demand for saving.
JEL: 
D52
F30
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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