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Product Choice and Product Switching

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Author Info
Andrew B. Bernard
Stephen Redding
Peter K. Schott

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Abstract

This paper develops a model of endogenous product selection by firms. The theory is motivated by newevidence we present on the importance of product switching by U.S. manufacturers. Two-thirds of continuingfirms change their product mix every five years, and product switches involve more than 40% of firm output andalmost half of existing products. The theoretical model incorporates heterogeneous firms, heterogeneousproducts, and ongoing entry and exit. In equilibrium, firm productivity is correlated with product fixed costs,with the most productive firms choosing to make the products with the highest fixed costs. Changes in marketstructure result in systematic patterns of firm entry/exit and product switching.

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Paper provided by Centre for Economic Performance, LSE in its series CEP Discussion Papers with number dp0594.

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Date of creation: Nov 2003
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Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp0594

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Related research
Keywords: heterogeneous firms; product differentiation; sunk costs; entry and exit;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior
L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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References listed on IDEAS
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  3. Dunne, Timothy & Roberts, Mark J & Samuelson, Larry, 1989. "The Growth and Failure of U.S. Manufacturing Plants," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 104(4), pages 671-98, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  4. Gollop, Frank M & Monahan, James L, 1991. "A Generalized Index of Diversification: Trends in U.S. Manufacturing," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 73(2), pages 318-30, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. G. Steven Olley & Ariel Pakes, 1992. "The Dynamics of Productivity in the Telecommunications Equipment Industry," NBER Working Papers 3977, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Andrew B Bernard & J. Bradford Jensen & Peter K Schott, 2002. "Survival of the Best Fit: Competition from Low Wage Countries and the (Uneven) Growth of U.S. Manufacturing Plants," Working Papers 02-22, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau. [Downloadable!]
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  8. Eric J. Bartelsman & Mark Doms, 2000. "Understanding Productivity: Lessons from Longitudinal Microdata," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 569-594, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  9. Helfat, C.E. & Raubitschek, R.S., 2000. "Product Sequencing: Co-Evolution of Knowledge, Capabilities and Products," Papers 00-1, U.S. Department of Justice - Antitrust Division.
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  12. Olley, G Steven & Pakes, Ariel, 1996. "The Dynamics of Productivity in the Telecommunications Equipment Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 64(6), pages 1263-97, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  14. Milgrom, Paul & Roberts, John, 1990. "The Economics of Modern Manufacturing: Technology, Strategy, and Organization," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(3), pages 511-28, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  15. Jovanovic, Boyan, 1982. "Selection and the Evolution of Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(3), pages 649-70, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  19. Yakov Amihud & Baruch Lev, 1981. "Risk Reduction as a Managerial Motive for Conglomerate Mergers," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 12(2), pages 605-617, Autumn. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  20. Pavcnik, Nina, 2002. "Trade Liberalization, Exit, and Productivity Improvement: Evidence from Chilean Plants," Review of Economic Studies, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 69(1), pages 245-76, January.
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  21. repec:rus:hseeco:122439 is not listed on IDEAS
  22. Hopenhayn, Hugo A, 1992. "Entry, Exit, and Firm Dynamics in Long Run Equilibrium," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 60(5), pages 1127-50, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Full references

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.)

  1. Baldwin, John R. & Lileeva, Alla, 2008. "Adaptation à la concurrence des importations : effets du commerce avec les pays à bas salaires sur le portefeuille de produits des établissements manufacturiers canadiens," Série de documents de recherche sur l'analyse économique (AE) 2008054f, Statistics Canada, Direction des études analytiques. [Downloadable!]
  2. Coucke, K. & Sleuwaegen, L., 2006. "Exit in globalising industries: the role of international (out)sourcing," Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School Working Paper Series 2006-14, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. [Downloadable!]
  3. Edward L. Glaeser & William R. Kerr, 2008. "Local Industrial Conditions and Entrepreneurship: How Much of the Spatial Distribution Can We Explain?," NBER Working Papers 14407, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  4. Maurice Kugler & Eric Verhoogen, 2008. "The Quality-Complementarity Hypothesis: Theory and Evidence from Colombia," NBER Working Papers 14418, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  5. David Greenaway & Joakim Gullstrand & Richard Kneller, 2009. "Live or Let Die? Alternative Routes to Industry Exit," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 317-337, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  6. Baldwin, John R. & Lileeva, Alla, 2008. "Adapting to Import Competition: Effects of Low-wage Trade on Commodity Mix in Canadian Manufacturing Plants," Economic Analysis (EA) Research Paper Series 2008054e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch. [Downloadable!]
  7. Mark Roberts & Shawn Klimek & Timothy Dunne, 2004. "Entrant Experience and Plant Exit," Working Papers 04-12, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  8. Carlos Henrique Corseuil & Hidehiko Ichimura, 2006. "New Evidences on What Job Creation and Job Destruction Represent," Discussion papers 06023, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI). [Downloadable!]
  9. Joze P. Damijan & Crt Kostevc & Saso Polanec, 2008. "From innovation to exporting or vice versa? Causal link between innovation activity and exporting in Slovenian microdata," LICOS Discussion Papers 20408, LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, K.U.Leuven. [Downloadable!]
  10. Pinelopi K. Goldberg & Amit Khandelwal & Nina Pavcnik & Petia Topalova, 2008. "Imported Intermediate Inputs and Domestic Product Growth: Evidence from India," NBER Working Papers 14416, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  11. Kalina Manova & Zhiwei Zhang, 2008. "China's exporters and importers: firms, products, and trade partners," Working Paper Series 2008-28, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. [Downloadable!]
  12. Pinelopi K. Goldberg & Amit Khandelwal & Nina Pavcnik & Petia Topalova, 2008. "Multi-product Firms and Product Turnover in the Developing World: Evidence from India," NBER Working Papers 14127, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
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