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Trade shocks, product mix adjustment and productivity growth in Italian manufacturing

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  • Maria Gabriela Ladu
  • Andrea Linarello
  • Filippo Oropallo

Abstract

In this paper, we use firm‐level data on the universe of Italian manufacturing multi‐product exporters to test whether demand shocks in export markets lead multi‐product exporters to increase their productivity. The main mechanism behind the documented productivity gains is the reallocation of resources across products within firms (American Economic Review, 104, 2014 and 495; National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series No. 22433, 2016). Intuitively, the increased demand stemming from foreign markets will induce firms to adjust their product mix by moving inputs from low to high productive/profitable uses. We find that these productivity gains are significant and can explain between 1/10 and 1/2 of aggregate productivity growth in the manufacturing sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Gabriela Ladu & Andrea Linarello & Filippo Oropallo, 2020. "Trade shocks, product mix adjustment and productivity growth in Italian manufacturing," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(5), pages 1434-1451, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:worlde:v:43:y:2020:i:5:p:1434-1451
    DOI: 10.1111/twec.12927
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    Cited by:

    1. Mathias Juust, 2021. "Trade Effects Of A Negative Export Shock On Direct Exporters And Wholesalers," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 133, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).
    2. Matteo Bugamelli & Francesca Lotti & Monica Amici & Emanuela Ciapanna & Fabrizio Colonna & Francesco D�Amuri & Silvia Giacomelli & Andrea Linarello & Francesco Manaresi & Giuliana Palumbo & Filippo , 2018. "Productivity growth in Italy: a tale of a slow-motion change," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 422, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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