Nunn, Nathan2011-01-252007Nunn, Nathan. 2007. Relationship-specificity, incomplete contracts, and the pattern of trade. Quarterly Journal of Economics 122(2): 569-600.0033-5533http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:4686801Is a country's ability to enforce contracts an important determinant of comparative advantage? To answer this question, I construct a variable that measures, for each good, the proportion of its intermediate inputs that require relationship-specific investments. Combining this measure with data on trade flows and judicial quality, I find that countries with good contract enforcement specialize in the production of goods for which relationship-specific investments are most important. According to my estimates contract enforcement explains more of the pattern of trade than physical capital and skilled labor combined.en-USJournal Article2011-01-2510.1162/qjec.122.2.569