Decomposing Aggregate Trade Flows: New Evidence from U.S. Traders
Abstract
Using firm-level data on export transactions, we uncover a rich set of results about the extensive margins of exporting and exporter responses during periods of global downturns. We perform our analysis with respect to firm size, age, ownership status, and sector to emphasize the role of firm heterogeneity. We uncover a larger role for firm entry and exit in changes in annual export flows of single-unit, smaller, and younger firms. Young, small firms perform best during both periods of crises as well as non-crises periods. We also decompose the margins of U.S. imports at the U.S. importer, foreign supplier, and U.S. importer-foreign supplier pair levels. While export flows are closely correlated with global business cycles, import flows more closely approximate U.S. economic cycles. Additionally, both pair and foreign supplier flows are far more volatile than U.S. import flows, that is, U.S. importer-foreign supplier matches experience more churning on average than do either U.S. importers or foreign suppliers.Download Info
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Paper provided by Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau in its series Working Papers with number 12-17.Length: 40 pages
Date of creation: Sep 2012
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:12-17
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Keywords: U.S. exports; imports; extensive and intensive margins; firm heterogeneity; shocks;Find related papers by JEL classification:
- F1 - International Economics - - Trade
- F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
- F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2012-09-22 (All new papers)
- NEP-INT-2012-09-22 (International Trade)
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