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SMEs in Argentina: Who are the Exporters?

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  • Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano

    (Bocconi University DEP-KITeS, Milan, Italy - and FEEM, CEPR)

  • Christian Volpe Martincus

    (Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, United States of America)

Abstract

There exists a growing body of literature which looks at export decisions made by firms. Most studies focus on developed countries and do not explore whether different behavioral patterns prevail over the firm size distribution. This paper aims at filling this gap in the literature by analyzing the export behavior of a statistically representative sample of 192 Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs) in a developing country, Argentina, over the period 1996-1998. We find that the level of employment, sourcing from abroad, investment in product improvement and average productivity are associated with a higher probability of exporting. Training activities for employees are important to export outside of MERCOSUR.

Suggested Citation

  • Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano & Christian Volpe Martincus, 2009. "SMEs in Argentina: Who are the Exporters?," KITeS Working Papers 024, KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy, revised Jun 2009.
    • Handle: RePEc:cri:cespri:kites24_wp
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Carlo Altomonte & Tommaso Aquilante & Gábor Békés & Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano, 2013. "Internationalization and innovation of firms: evidence and policy [Managing knowledge within and outside the multinational corporation]," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 28(76), pages 663-700.
    2. Hala El-Said & Mahmoud Al-Said & Chahir Zaki, 2015. "Trade and access to finance of SMEs: is there a nexus?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(39), pages 4184-4199, August.
    3. Trinh, Long, 2015. "Dynamics of innovation and internationalization among Vietnamese SMEs," MPRA Paper 68308, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 26 Nov 2015.
    4. Békés, Gábor & Muraközy, Balázs, 2012. "Magyar gazellák. A gyors növekedésű vállalatok jellemzői és kialakulásuk elemzése [Hungarian gazelles: what makes a high-growth firm in Hungary?]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(3), pages 233-262.
    5. Trinh, Long Quang & Doan, Ha Thi Thanh, 2018. "Internationalization and the growth of Vietnamese micro, small, and medium sized enterprises: Evidence from panel quantile regressions," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 71-83.
    6. Pedro Albarran & Raquel Carrasco & Adelheid Holl, 2013. "Domestic transport infrastructure and firms’ export market participation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 879-898, May.
    7. Stephanie E. Mansion & Andreas Bausch, 2020. "Intangible assets and SMEs’ export behavior: a meta-analytical perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 727-760, October.
    8. Child, John & Karmowska, Joanna & Shenkar, Oded, 2022. "The role of context in SME internationalization – A review," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 57(1).
    9. Fakih, Ali & Ghazalian, Pascal L., 2013. "Why Some Firms Export? An Empirical Analysis for Manufacturing Firms in the MENA Region," IZA Discussion Papers 7172, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Mohamad D. Revindo & Christopher Gan, 2018. "Factors Affecting Variation in SMES' Export Intensity," LPEM FEBUI Working Papers 201820, LPEM, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia, revised May 2018.
    11. Ahmed Fayez Abdelgouad, 2016. "Exporting and Workforce Skills-Intensity in the Egyptian Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Evidence Using World Bank Firm-Level Data for Egypt," Working Paper Series in Economics 358, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    12. Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine & Onjewu, Adah-Kole Emmanuel & Nowiński, Witold & Jones, Paul, 2021. "The determinants of SMEs’ export entry: A systematic review of the literature," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 262-278.
    13. Trinh, Long Q., 2016. "Dynamics of Innovation and Internationalization among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Viet Nam," ADBI Working Papers 580, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    14. Martineau, Charles & Pastoriza, David, 2016. "International involvement of established SMEs: A systematic review of antecedents, outcomes and moderators," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 458-470.
    15. Pradhan, Jaya Prakash & Das, Keshab, 2012. "Exports by Indian Manufacturing SMEs: Regional Patterns and Determinants," MPRA Paper 41804, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Boly, Amadou & Coniglio, Nicola Daniele & Prota, Francesco & Seric, Adnan, 2014. "Diaspora Investments and Firm Export Performance in Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 422-433.
    17. Ariel Herbert Fambeu & Patricia Tchawa Yomi, 2023. "Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication et exportation des entreprises manufacturières en Afrique Centrale," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 35(4), pages 403-415, December.
    18. Prakash Singh & Dibyendu Maiti, 2019. "Sources of Finance, Innovation and Exportability in Asia: Cross-country Evidences," Journal of Asian Economic Integration, , vol. 1(1), pages 73-96, April.
    19. repec:unt:escsti:sti84 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Durairaj Kumarasamy & Prakash Singh, 2018. "Access to Finance, Financial Development and Firm Ability to Export: Experience from Asia–Pacific Countries," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 32(1), pages 15-38, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SME; Exports; Argentina;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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