Application of Hypothetical Extraction and Conventional Method in Measuring Value-added in Trade: Equivalence or Different Result?

Two methods, the hypothetical extraction method and the conventional method, are used for measuring value added in trade. The former has three general steps in which the sum of the domestic value added (DVA) share and the vertical specialization (VS) share of gross exports is equal at the macroeconomic level, but not at the activity level. The latter, however, not only guarantees the macro level but can also be extended to the level of economic activities. Moreover, while the former has attracted the attention of researchers in Iran, the latter has been neglected. The main objective of this article is to fill this gap following the main question: Does the application of these two methods in measuring value added in trade have the same or different results? For this purpose, the latest input-output table of 2016 is used. The overall results show that, at the macro level, the results of the two methods are the same. Secondly, the results of the two methods show a different picture at the activity level, so that in the hypothetical extraction method the sum of DVA and VS at the activity level is greater or smaller than one, which makes the interpretation of the results and policy analysis difficult, whereas in the conventional method provides unique ratio, which makes the interpretation of the results and policy analysis possible at the activity level.