The Causal Impact of Common Native Language on International Trade: Evidence from a Spatial Regression Discontinuity Design
利用瑞士内部语言边界附近的多语环境，通过空间断点回归识别共同母语对进口贸易的因果效应，发现其影响贸易的扩展边际而非集约边际。
This article studies the effect of sharing a common native language (CNL) on international trade. Switzerland hosts three major native language groups which adjoin countries sharing the same native majority languages. In regions close to the internal language border the alternate major language is taught early on in school and not only understood but spoken by the residents. This setting allows for an assessment of the impact of common native rather than spoken language on transaction‐level imports from neighbouring countries. Our findings point to an effect of CNL on extensive rather than on intensive margins of trade.