Multinational Networks and Trade Participation
July 2025

This paper analyses the influence of multinational networks on international trade. Drawing on detailed administrative data for Belgium and the global organisation of multinational groups, it shows that integration into an international network facilitates access to new markets and promotes the development of export and import activities. The study also highlights that these effects extend beyond the direct scope of subsidiaries and can benefit companies close to the network. Combining empirical analysis and economic modelling, the research emphasises the significant impact of multinational networks on business growth and integration into global trade.

Read the paper.

Quantifying EU Strategic Dependence
July 2025

This paper proposes a new indicator, the Strategic Dependency Index (SDI), designed to measure the dependence of European Union countries on imports from outside the EU. Using highly detailed trade data and a structural approach to demand, the study analyses the exposure of economic sectors to supply shocks and their potential effects on welfare. The results highlight varying levels of dependency across products and industries, as well as differentiated impacts of trade policies, particularly in the chemicals, mining and certain metals sectors. This research provides a relevant analytical tool to inform debates on European strategic autonomy and supply chain resilience.

Read the paper.

Deglobalization and the reorganization of supply chains: Effects on regional inequalities in the EU
October 2024

This paper examines policies aimed at reducing external economic dependence and supporting domestic production within the European Union. Using a multi-regional, multi-sector general equilibrium model, it analyses the comparative effects of trade, industrial and public policies on economic welfare. The results show that trade barriers tend to reduce overall welfare, while industrial policies can have positive effects, with highly variable impacts across regions. The study also highlights the decisive role of links between sectors and territories, which amplify both gains and losses, revealing significant regional disparities in the effects of economic policies.

Read the paper.
 

Correspondences of EU Product Classifications
March 2022

This paper presents detailed correspondences between the European CN and Prodcom product classifications, enabling the tracking of product developments over time and ensuring greater consistency between databases. It highlights potential biases linked to frequent classification changes, which can distort analyses of prices, quantities and trade indices. By offering methodological tools and resources available in open source, this research facilitates the construction of more reliable indicators for the analysis of international trade and product markets.

Read the paper.

Price Updating with Production Networks
December 2021

This paper proposes a non-parametric analytical framework for studying variable margins of firms within production networks. By drawing on buyer-supplier relationships and observed variations in input prices and costs, it allows for the analysis of economic shock transmission mechanisms without resorting to heavy structural assumptions. The study highlights the central role of price competition and imperfect transmission in the propagation of monetary shocks, productivity fluctuations and exchange rate variations across economic networks.

Read the paper.
Updated on February 4, 2026