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Exports and Productivity Growth ? First Evidence from a Continuous Treatment Approach

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Author Info
Fryges, Helmut
Wagner, Joachim

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Abstract

A recent survey of 54 micro-econometric studies reveals that exporting firms are more productive than non-exporters. On the other hand, previous empirical studies show that exporting does not necessarily improve productivity. One possible reason for this result is that most previous studies are restricted to analysing the relationship between a firm?s export status and the growth of its labour productivity, using the firms? export status as a binary treatment variable and comparing the performance of exporting and non-exporting firms. In this paper, we apply the newly developed generalised propensity score (GPS) methodology that allows for continuous treatment, that is, different levels of the firms? export activities. Using the GPS method and a large panel data set for German manufacturing firms, we estimate the relationship between a firm?s export-sales ratio and its labour productivity growth rate. We find that there is a causal effect of firms? export activities on labour productivity growth. However, exporting improves labour productivity growth only within a subinterval of the range of firms? export-sales ratios. --

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Paper provided by ZEW - Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung / Center for European Economic Research in its series ZEW Discussion Papers with number 07-032.

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Date of creation: 2007
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Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:5691

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Related research
Keywords: Export-sales ratio; labour productivity; continuous treatment; dose-response function;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Country and Industry Studies of Trade
L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General

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References listed on IDEAS
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  2. Griliches, Zvi, 1990. "Patent Statistics as Economic Indicators: A Survey," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 28(4), pages 1661-1707, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  3. Andrew B. Bernard & Jonathan Eaton & J. Bradford Jensen & Samuel Kortum, 2003. "Plants and Productivity in International Trade," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 93(4), pages 1268-1290, September. [Downloadable!]
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  4. Roberts, Mark J & Tybout, James R, 1997. "The Decision to Export in Colombia: An Empirical Model of Entry with Sunk Costs," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 87(4), pages 545-64, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  6. Andrew Bernard & Joachim Wagner, 1997. "Exports and success in German manufacturing," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer, vol. 133(1), pages 134-157, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Joachim Wagner, 2007. "Exports and Productivity: A Survey of the Evidence from Firm-level Data," The World Economy, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 30(1), pages 60-82, 01. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  8. Lenn Gomes & Kannan Ramaswamy, 1999. "An Empirical Examination of the Form of the Relationship Between Multinationality and Performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 173-187, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  11. Davide Castellani, 2002. "Export behavior and productivity growth: Evidence from Italian manufacturing firms," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer, vol. 138(4), pages 605-628, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  13. Joachim Wagner, 2006. "International Firm Activities and Innovation: Evidence from Knowledge Production Functions for German Firms," Working Paper Series in Economics 25, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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  19. Wagner, Joachim, 2001. " A Note on the Firm Size-Export Relationship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 229-37, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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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. Fryges, Helmut & Wagner, Joachim, 2008. "Exports and Profitability: First Evidence for German Manufacturing Firms," IZA Discussion Papers 3798, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. Alfonso Flores-Lagunes & Arturo Gonzalez & Todd C. Neumann, 2007. "Estimating the Effects of Length of Exposure to a Training Program: The Case of Job Corps," IZA Discussion Papers 2846, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Carlos A. Flores, . "Estimation of Dose-Response Functions and Optimal Doses with a Continuous Treatment," Working Papers 0707, University of Miami, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  4. Joachim Wagner, 2008. "Exports, Imports, and Productivity at the Firm Level. An International Perspective: Introduction by Guest Editor," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer, vol. 144(4), pages 591-595, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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