Essays on International Trade and Product Differentiation

The first chapter discusses the main issues of some methodologies that are commonly used in order to deal with unit values and product differentiation, while not observing product prices. An original framework is developed and some new indicators are proposed. The second chapter provides an empirical investigation on the China’s peculiar position in the world trade with a specific focus on intermediate products and quality differentiation. Some of the methodologies discussed in the first chapter of the thesis are also applied. The third chapter presents a theoretical model of trade policy under product differentiation and intra-industry trade. In particular, the model I develop focuses on the possibility of having sectoral lobbies who organize and demand protection from the government.