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Access to new imported varieties and total factor productivity: Firm level evidence from France

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Author Info
Irac, D.
Abstract

This paper aims at providing causal evidence on the effects of expanded imported varieties on total factor productivity (TFP) using French firm level data. Our strategy is to build an exact index of increase in varieties -using the Broda, Greenfield and Weinstein (2006) methodology. This index captures the impact of new varieties on total factor productivity within a Dixit-Stiglitz framework based on a Constant Elasticity of Substitution production function. We argue that measurement problems are central to the question we try to address. We deal with this issue using alternative instrumental variables strategies. First, we work with sectoral variety index in order to reduce the effect of outliers. Secondly, working with estimated bilateral imports rather than observed ones, we are able to adjust the variety index for measurement errors and find a strong impact of this index on TFP. New varieties that enter the production function appear as weakly substitutable- with an elasticity of substitution ranging from 1.25 and 1.5 - and conducive to significant TFP growth.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Banque de France in its series Documents de Travail with number 204.

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Length: 35 pages
Date of creation: 2008
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:bfr:banfra:204

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Postal: Banque de France 31 Rue Croix des Petits Champs LABOLOG - 49-1404 75049 PARIS
Web page: http://www.banque-france.fr/
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Related research
Keywords: Variety ; Trade ; Total Factor Productivity.;

Find related papers by JEL classification:
F1 - International Economics - - Trade
O4 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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    Other versions:
  4. Romer, Paul, 1994. "New goods, old theory, and the welfare costs of trade restrictions," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 5-38, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  5. Jeffrey D. Sachs & Andrew Warner, 1995. "Economic Reform and the Process of Global Integration," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 26(1995-1), pages 1-118. [Downloadable!]
  6. Paul Krugman, 1995. "Growing World Trade: Causes and Consequences," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 26(1995-1), pages 327-377. [Downloadable!]
  7. Ethier, Wilfred J, 1982. "National and International Returns to Scale in the Modern Theory of International Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 72(3), pages 389-405, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  11. Bardos, Mireille, 1998. "Detecting the risk of company failure at the Banque de France," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(10-11), pages 1405-1419, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  15. Peter K. Schott, 2001. "Do Rich and Poor Countries Specialize in a Different Mix of Goods? Evidence from Product-Level US Trade Data," NBER Working Papers 8492, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  16. Harrigan, James, 1995. "The Volume of Trade in Differentiated Intermediate Goods: Theory and Evidence," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 77(2), pages 283-93, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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