Bilateral Trade Elasticities Sweden Versus Her Major Trading Partners

This study explores the long-run bilateral trade elasticities between Sweden and its six major trading partners for the period 1960-1999. Tests for unit roots and cointegration in a panel perspective are conducted. The estimated cross sectional trade elasticities show that trade is highly sensitive to changes in income but less sensitive to real exchange rate fluctuations. The bilateral trade elasticities disclose that the MarshallLerner condition is not satisfied (except for Germany) and real depreciation of the Swedish currency has less favorable impact on the trade balance. The policy implications of our findings are also discussed.