Abstract
This Ph.D. thesis consists of four self-contained chapters that study how geography and institutions affect trade and growth."The Importance of Business Travel for Trade: Evidence from the Liberalization of the Soviet Airspace" examines the impact of the cost of travel on bilateral trade."Dynamic Effects of Institutions on Firm-Level Exports" examines how institutions affect firm-level exports as trade-relations mature."Redirecting International Trade: Contracts, Conflicts, and Institutions" studies how firm-level exports and offshoring are affected by weak institutions across various industries."Capital Freedom, Financial Development and Provincial Economic Growth in China" investigates the relationship between financial development and growth at the provincial level in China.