• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

The effect of real exchange rate changes on trade balance is called the J-curve effect. That is, after real depreciation, the trade balance will deteriorate in the short run and improve in the long run. Specially, import and export prices respond with little or no decline in volume. Assuming a zero initial trade balance and dominance of the exporter currency in invoicing trade contracts, the trade balance continues to deteriorate in the medium term. Over time, the relative price-induced volume effect comes to dominate the price effect and the trade balance improves. This pattern of the trade balance adjustment is commonly referred to as the J-curve effect. This study examines the effects of changes in the exchange rate on the Korean port trade balance to China. The empirical results indicate that whilst there is J-curve effect in the short-run, but in the long-run, the real depreciation of the Korean won has positive impact on port trade balance to China.