Regional Integration and Trade Costs in South Asia

Until now, the value of inter-country trade within South Asian nations has been low. While similarities in the exports profiles can be seen as a reason for this low value of trade, it might not be a valid one, especially given the presence of growing South Asian income. The intraindustry trade theory suggests that complementarity might actually increase trade in the presence of a rising income. There may be other important factors such as trade costs. Using an augmented gravity model in a panel framework, we try to identify the components of trade costs that might have resulted in lower inter-country South Asian trade. JEL Classification: C32, F02, F15 ADBI Working Paper 127 Banik and Gilbert