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Follow the cloud! The impact of ICT on Italian provinces’ trade

Author

Listed:
  • Marinella Boccia

    (University of Salerno
    CELPE, Centre for Economic and Labor Policy Evaluation)

  • Anna Maria Ferragina

    (University of Salerno
    CELPE, Centre for Economic and Labor Policy Evaluation)

  • Stefano Iandolo

    (University of Salerno)

Abstract

This study investigates the role of digital capacities in the internationalisation processes of Italian provinces using a panel dataset built upon the territorial statistical database of ISTAT (Italian National Institute of Statistics) for the period 2014–2017. The purpose is to explore the link between three internationalisation indicators (export value, export intensity and export in most dynamics sectors) and two ICT drivers (use of e-business digital technologies, such as cloud computing, and use of social media) expected to enable firms to share information along the supply chain and to ease firms’ communication and fixed cost investment. To purge the analysis from unobserved determinants of export performance and ICT adoption reverse causation problems, the identification relies on an instrumental variables approach that addresses the endogeneity of our two variables of interest related to ICT. The results show a significant relationship between the ICT capacities related to cloud adoption and our export indicators confirming the role of e-business digital technologies in explaining the export performance of Italian provinces. The use of social media also appears weakly able to impact on the export performances indicators. These results are robust to our endogeneity checks.

Suggested Citation

  • Marinella Boccia & Anna Maria Ferragina & Stefano Iandolo, 2022. "Follow the cloud! The impact of ICT on Italian provinces’ trade," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(4), pages 667-690, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolin:v:49:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s40812-022-00230-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s40812-022-00230-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Han, Luyi & Wojan, Timothy R. & Goetz, Stephan J., 2023. "Internationalization of the Rural Nonfarm Economy and the Cloud: Evidence from US Firm-level Export Data," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335701, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information and Communication Technology; Internationalization; Social Media; Cloud Computing Technologies; Export;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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