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Learning by Exporting: Do Firm Characteristics Matter? Evidence from Argentinian Panel Data

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  • Facundo Albornoz
  • Marco Ercolani

Abstract

We identify characteristics that affect firms' ability to learn from their export activities. Our analysis is based on a panel of Argentinian firms spanning 1992-2001 and we employ Granger causality tests, propensity score matching techniques and GMM regressions. The characteristics we find to be important are: foreign ownership, intensive use of imported inputs, a skilled workforce and small firm size. Finally, firms that are new to exporting seem to experience particularly high productivity gains but begin enjoying them before entering into the export market.

Suggested Citation

  • Facundo Albornoz & Marco Ercolani, 2007. "Learning by Exporting: Do Firm Characteristics Matter? Evidence from Argentinian Panel Data," Discussion Papers 07-17, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.
    • Handle: RePEc:bir:birmec:07-17
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    Cited by:

    1. Jaan Masso & Priit Vahter, 2011. "Exporting And Productivity: The Effects Of Multi-Market And Multi-Product Export Entry," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration Working Paper Series 83, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).
    2. Facundo Albornoz & Matthew A. Cole & Robert J. R. Elliott & Marco G. Ercolani, 2009. "In Search of Environmental Spillovers," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 136-163, January.
    3. Konstantins Benkovskis & Jaan Masso & Olegs Tkacevs & Priit Vahter & Naomitsu Yashiro, 2020. "Export and productivity in global value chains: comparative evidence from Latvia and Estonia," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 156(3), pages 557-577, August.
    4. Fatou Cissé & Ji Eun Choi, 2015. "Do firms learn by exporting or learn to export? Evidence from Senegalese manufacturing plant," WIDER Working Paper Series 057, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. F. Albornoz, M. Kugler, 2008. "Exporting Spillovers: Firm-Level Evidence from Argentina," Working Papers eg0057, Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Economics, revised 2008.
    6. Ehouman Williams V. Ahouakan & M'Baye Diene, 2017. "Does School Quality Matter? Primary Schools Characteristics and Child Labour Intensity in Senegal," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 19(1), pages 113-131.
    7. Ermolaeva, L. & Freixanet, J. & Panibratov, A., 2018. "The interplay of firms' absorptive capacity, export orientation and innovation strategies: Evidence from Russia," Working Papers 15108, Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University.
    8. Fatou Cissé & Ji Eun Choi, 2015. "Do Firms Learn by Exporting or Learn to Export?: Evidence from Senegalese Manufacturing Plant," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2015-057, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    9. Jaan Masso & Priit Vahter, 2015. "Exporting and Productivity: The Effects of Multi-Product and Multi-Market Export Entry," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 62(4), pages 325-350, September.
    10. Hahn, Chin Hee & Choi, Yong-Seok, 2021. "Learning-to-export Effect as a Response to Export Opportunities: Micro-evidence from Korean Manufacturing," KDI Journal of Economic Policy, Korea Development Institute (KDI), vol. 43(4), pages 1-21.
    11. Hahn Chin Hee, 2012. "Learning-by-Exporting, Introduction of New Products, and Product Rationalization: Evidence from Korean Manufacturing," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-37, May.
    12. Fatou Cisse, 2017. "Do Firms Learn by Exporting or Learn to Export? Evidence from Senegalese Manufacturing Firms," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 19(1), pages 133-160.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exporting; Learning by Exporting; Productivity; Absorptive Capacity; Argentina;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity

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