Brokers vs. Retailers: Evidence from the French Imports Industry of Fresh Produce
Résumé
There is burgeoning discussion in the literature about trade intermediaries and more precisely about their specific role in trade. Using very original data, our article sheds light on the behavior of trade intermediaries when importing fresh fruits and vegetables in France. To do so, we distinguish the shares of direct and indirect imports of fresh produce respectively operated through French brokers and through French retailers. Accounting for the bounded nature of the share, we show that brokers are more likely than retailers to operate in small countries with high variable costs.