Modelling the demand for imports and domestic output

The paper models domestic output over imports in Norway’s expenditure on manufactures. Using Johansen’s (1988, 1991) method, we obtain a cointegrating vector between the output-imports ratio, relative prices and a proxy for international specialisation. This vector enters a conditional equilibrium correction model of the output-imports ratio; a model which also includes short-run influences of relative prices and a negative coefficient for domestic capacity utilisation. The utilisation coefficient aside, we do not find significant activity effects on the output-imports ratio. Lastly, the model passes several tests of the Lucas critique. Keywords: Import share, international specialisation, cointegration, Johansen procedure, equilibrium correction model, parameter constancy, Lucas critique