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From Selling Goods to Selling Services: Firm Responses to Trade Liberalization

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  • Holger Breinlich
  • Anson Soderbery
  • Greg C. Wright

Abstract

In this paper we focus on a new channel of adaptation to trade liberalization, namely the shift toward increased provision of services in lieu of goods production. We exploit variation in European Union trade policy to show that lower manufacturing tariffs lead firms to shift into services provision and out of goods production. We also find that a successful transition is associated with higher firm-level R&D stocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Holger Breinlich & Anson Soderbery & Greg C. Wright, 2018. "From Selling Goods to Selling Services: Firm Responses to Trade Liberalization," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(4), pages 79-108, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejpol:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:79-108
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/pol.20150116
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L16 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Industrial Organization and Macroeconomics; Macroeconomic Industrial Structure
    • L60 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - General
    • L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General

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