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International competition and firm performance: evidence from Belgium

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  • Jan De Loecker
  • Catherine Fuss
  • Jo Van Biesebroeck

Abstract

We evaluate the impact of international competition on firm-level performance in Belgium. In the manufacturing sector we consider both the impact of global competition through measures of import penetration and the impact of within-EU competitiveness using measures of relative labor cost. In selected manufacturing sectors we identify the strength of international competition through a firm’s proximity to the border. In both instances, we consider the impact on a variety of performance dimensions to learn about the mechanisms and about firms’ adjustment to these competitive pressures.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan De Loecker & Catherine Fuss & Jo Van Biesebroeck, 2014. "International competition and firm performance: evidence from Belgium," Working Papers of Department of Economics, Leuven 553099, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Economics, Leuven.
    • Handle: RePEc:ete:ceswps:553099
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    1. Jan De Loecker, 2011. "Product Differentiation, Multiproduct Firms, and Estimating the Impact of Trade Liberalization on Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 79(5), pages 1407-1451, September.
    2. Jan De Loecker & Pinelopi K. Goldberg & Amit K. Khandelwal & Nina Pavcnik, 2016. "Prices, Markups, and Trade Reform," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 84, pages 445-510, March.
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    10. Alvaro Garcia-Marin & Nico Voigtländer, 2019. "Exporting and Plant-Level Efficiency Gains: It's in the Measure," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(4), pages 1777-1825.
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    12. Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg & Amit Kumar Khandelwal & Nina Pavcnik & Petia Topalova, 2010. "Imported Intermediate Inputs and Domestic Product Growth: Evidence from India," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 125(4), pages 1727-1767.
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    14. Mion, Giordano & Zhu, Linke, 2013. "Import competition from and offshoring to China: A curse or blessing for firms?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(1), pages 202-215.
    15. Jan De Loecker & Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, 2014. "Firm Performance in a Global Market," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 6(1), pages 201-227, August.
    16. Jan De Loecker & Pinelopi K. Goldberg & Amit K. Khandelwal & Nina Pavcnik, 2016. "Prices, Markups, and Trade Reform," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 84, pages 445-510, March.
    17. Marc J. Melitz, 2003. "The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 71(6), pages 1695-1725, November.
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    19. repec:pri:cepsud:231deloecker is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Bruno Merlevede & Angelos Theodorakopoulos, 2016. "Productivity effects from inter-industry offshoring and inshoring: Firm-level evidence from Belgium," FIW Working Paper series 165, FIW.
    2. Emanuele Forlani & Ralf Martin & Giordano Mion & Mirabelle Muûls, 2023. "Unraveling Firms: Demand, Productivity and Markups Heterogeneity," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(654), pages 2251-2302.
    3. Emmanuel Dhyne & Ayumu Ken Kikkawa & Magne Mogstad & Felix Tintelnot, 2021. "Trade and Domestic Production Networks," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(2), pages 643-668.
    4. Vallés, Javier & Salas Fumás, Vicente & San Juan, Lucio, 2022. "Corporate economic profits in the euro area: The relevance of cost competitive advantage," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 569-585.
    5. Alan Asprilla & Nicolas Berman & Olivier Cadot & Mélise Jaud, 2019. "Trade Policy And Market Power: Firm‐Level Evidence," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 60(4), pages 1647-1673, November.
    6. Akgündüz, Yusuf Emre & Torun, Huzeyfe, 2020. "Two and a half million Syrian refugees, tasks and capital intensity," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    7. Laurens Cherchye & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Marijn Verschelde, 2018. "Nonparametric identification of unobserved technological heterogeneity in production," Working Paper Research 335, National Bank of Belgium.
    8. Kaku Attah Damoah, 2021. "Markups, Market Imperfections, and Trade Openness: Evidence from Ghana," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 35(1), pages 92-116.
    9. Colin J. Hottman & Ryan Monarch, 2018. "Estimating Unequal Gains across U.S. Consumers with Supplier Trade Data," Working Papers 18-04, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    10. Laurens Cherchye & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Cédric Duprez & Glenn Magerman & Marijn Verschelde, 2021. "Structural Identification of Productivity under Biased Technological Change∗," Working Papers ECARES 2021-28, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    11. Emmanuel Dhyne & Ayumu Ken Kikkawa & Glenn Magerman, 2022. "Imperfect Competition in Firm-to-Firm Trade," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 20(5), pages 1933-1970.
    12. J. De Mulder & H. Godefroid, 2018. "Slowdown in productivity," Economic Review, National Bank of Belgium, issue iv, pages 51-66, december.
    13. Jan De Loecker & Catherine Fuss & Johannes Van Biesebroeck, 2018. "Markup and price dynamics:linking micro to macro," Working Paper Research 357, National Bank of Belgium.
    14. HAYAKAWA Kazunobu & URATA Shujiro & YAMANOUCHI Kenta, 2022. "Import Competition from China and Markup Dispersion," Discussion papers 22031, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    15. Laurens Cherchye & Bram De Rock & Antonio Estache & Marijn Verschelde, 2015. "Efficiency Measures in Regulated Industries: History, Outstanding Challenges and Emerging Solutions," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2015-09, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    16. Jan De Loecker & Johannes Van Biesebroeck, 2016. "Effect of International Competition on Firm Productivity and Market Power," NBER Working Papers 21994, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    17. Meinen, Philipp, 2016. "Markup responses to Chinese imports," Discussion Papers 02/2016, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    18. Emmanuel Dhyne & Catherine Fuss, 2014. "Main lessons of the NBB’s 2014 conference “Total factor productivity : measurement, determinants and effects”," Economic Review, National Bank of Belgium, issue iii, pages 63-76, December.
    19. Gullstrand, Joakim & Knutsson, Polina, 2019. "The Spatial Dimension of Import Competition," Working Papers 2019:13, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    20. Meinen, Philipp, 2016. "Markup responses to Chinese imports," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 122-124.
    21. Kazunobu Hayakawa & Kenta Yamanouchi, 2024. "How does the reform of rules of origin affect firm performance in importing countries?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 837-856, February.
    22. Zhi, Yan & Bao, Di & Luo, Changyuan, 2019. "The China effect: Evidence from data at firm level in Thailand," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 1-1.
    23. Laurens Cherchye & Thomas Demuynck & Bram De Rock & Marijn Verschelde, 2018. "Nonparametric Production Analysis with Unobserved Heterogeneity in Productivity," Working Papers ECARES 2018-25, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    24. repec:nbb:ecrart:y:2014:m:december:i:iii:p:69-82 is not listed on IDEAS

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