We analyze the foundations of the relationship between trade and total factor productivity (TFP) in the Ricardian model. Under general assumptions about the autarky distributions of industry productivities, trade openness raises TFP. This is due to the selection effect of international competition – driven by comparative advantages – which makes "some" high- and "many" low-productivity industries exit the market. We derive a model-based measure of this effect that requires only production and trade data. In a sample of 41 countries, we find that Ricardian selection raised manufacturing TFP by 11% above the autarky level in 2005 (as against 6% in 1985), with a neat positive time trend and large cross-country differences.
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Finicelli, Andrea & Pagano, Patrizio & Sbracia, Massimo, 2009.
"Ricardian selection,"
MPRA Paper
16950, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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Find related papers by JEL classification: F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Capital and Total Factor Productivity; Capacity O40 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General
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Cited by: (explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
Finicelli, Andrea & Pagano, Patrizio & Sbracia, Massimo, 2009.
"Trade-revealed TFP,"
MPRA Paper
16951, University Library of Munich, Germany.
[Downloadable!]
Other versions: