关键词: 区际贸易成本, 增加值贸易, 低端化整合, 双边分解

Abstract: Based on Novy (2013), this paper undertakes an estimation and decomposition on China’s inter-regional trade cost changes for the first time by applying the input-output tables among the regions in the years of 1997, 2002 and 2007 from the perspective of value-added trade. The results show that, first of all, unlike the traditional trade flows, the measures based on the value-added trade indicate that the inter-regional trade cost in the decade from 1997 to 2007 does not increase, but on the contrary sharply falls down. Secondly, although the current inter-regional trade cost edges down, this decline embodies mainly the low-end integration in inland areas and driven by primary products. Finally, by further bilateral decomposition, it is found that the sign of low-end integration may be due to the scarcity of neighboring areas, excessive industrial conformability and policy gaps, the eastern coastal areas make the replacement by the external demands. With the increase of external dependence in the eastern coastal areas, the inter-regional division of labor will face a vicious circle of “speed-up of integration of labor division of primary products → excessive export of service industry → suffering from export capture → further acceleration of integration of labor division of primary products”. Therefore, the quality of inter-regional integration cannot be enhanced fundamentally unless shifting the concept of development, changing the isolated market incentives, and accelerating infrastructure construction.

Key words: Inter-regional Trade Cost, Value Added Trade, Low-end Integration, Bilateral Decomposition