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Information accessibility and export quality: Evidence from China

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  • Guangzhong Li
  • Hui Ding
  • Fansheng Jia

Abstract

Exploiting Google's 2010 withdrawal from mainland China, we examine the causal impact of information accessibility on export quality, and find that export quality decreases after Google's exit. The effect is more pronounced for firms and products facing greater information frictions, for firms in regions with local web filters, for firms trading with countries with more online information, and for firms facing fiercer product market competition. The more intensively affected firms also become less productive and their capital intensity declines after Google's exit. Overall, these results suggest that limited information accessibility may impair a country's international competitiveness through deteriorating export quality.

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  • Guangzhong Li & Hui Ding & Fansheng Jia, 2024. "Information accessibility and export quality: Evidence from China," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 480-509, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reviec:v:32:y:2024:i:2:p:480-509
    DOI: 10.1111/roie.12666
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    1. Peter H. Egger & Jie Li & Miaojie Yu, 2024. "Introduction to the special issue “China and the global economy”," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 325-327, May.

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