The effect of national borders as an obstacle to trade flow
Posted: Wed May 27, 2026 8:48 amThe effect of national borders as an obstacle to trade flows: Consequences for our economic and political choices
Dion, S. & Vaillancourt, F. (2026). - Institute for Research on Public Policy - Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation | May 2026. In memory of John McCallum.
EXCERPT: "INTRODUCTION The resurgence of protectionism internationally and trade tensions between Canada and the United States have brought the issue of borders in international trade back to the forefront. While at one time many envisioned a future in which national borders would cease to be a significant economic factor, the current situation very much suggests otherwise.
This resurgence has prompted us to update research findings published in 2012 by coauthor Stéphane Dion and the late John McCallum on the border effect, which can be defined as the barriers, obstacles or impediments that national borders create for trade f lows. The aim of the 2012 study was to contribute to the debate on national unity, and it highlighted the importance of factoring in the Canada-U.S. border effect to explain trade f lows between Canadian provinces and with U.S. states (Dion & McCallum, 2012). In our view, updating this research is even more relevant today: the current context is marked by a clear desire to diversify Canada’s international trade but also by vigorous debates on Canadian national unity, particularly in Alberta and Quebec. . . . . "
[ https://doi.org/10.26070/az5w-d294 ]
Dion, S. & Vaillancourt, F. (2026). - Institute for Research on Public Policy - Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation | May 2026. In memory of John McCallum.
EXCERPT: "INTRODUCTION The resurgence of protectionism internationally and trade tensions between Canada and the United States have brought the issue of borders in international trade back to the forefront. While at one time many envisioned a future in which national borders would cease to be a significant economic factor, the current situation very much suggests otherwise.
This resurgence has prompted us to update research findings published in 2012 by coauthor Stéphane Dion and the late John McCallum on the border effect, which can be defined as the barriers, obstacles or impediments that national borders create for trade f lows. The aim of the 2012 study was to contribute to the debate on national unity, and it highlighted the importance of factoring in the Canada-U.S. border effect to explain trade f lows between Canadian provinces and with U.S. states (Dion & McCallum, 2012). In our view, updating this research is even more relevant today: the current context is marked by a clear desire to diversify Canada’s international trade but also by vigorous debates on Canadian national unity, particularly in Alberta and Quebec. . . . . "
[ https://doi.org/10.26070/az5w-d294 ]