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LEARNING-BY-EXPORTING AND DESTINATION EFFECTS: EVIDENCE FROM AFRICAN SMEs

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  • BOERMANS, Martijn Adriaan

Abstract

Exports, in this study, are more productive than non-exports, but why? Using a micro-panel dataset from five African countries we show that more productive small and medium enterprises (SMEs) self-select into exporting. Ultimately we are interested in impact of exporting on productivity. Results demonstrate that African SMEs experience productivity gains because of export participation. Firms learn-by-exporting, however, improvements are moderated by export destinations. Firms that export outside Africa become more capital intensive and improve productivity while hiring more workers. In contrast, firms that export to African neighbouring countries downsize on capital and decrease productivity while hiring more unskilled workers at higher wages.

Suggested Citation

  • BOERMANS, Martijn Adriaan, 2013. "LEARNING-BY-EXPORTING AND DESTINATION EFFECTS: EVIDENCE FROM AFRICAN SMEs," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 13(2), pages 149-168.
  • Handle: RePEc:eaa:aeinde:v:13:y:2013:i:2_11
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    3. Juan Barboni & Nicolas Ferrari & Hanna Melgarejo & Adriana Peluffo, 2012. "Exports and Productivity: Does Destination Matter?," Revista de Economía y Estadística, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Instituto de Economía y Finanzas, vol. 50(1), pages 25-58, Diciembre.
    4. Neil Foster-McGregor, 2012. "Innovation and Technology Transfer across Countries," wiiw Research Reports 380, The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, wiiw.
    5. Prosper F. BANGWAYO-SKEETE & Winston R. MOORE, 2015. "Entry Into Export Markets And Quality Certifications: Evidence From Developing Countries," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 15(2), pages 17-34.
    6. Marianne Matthee & Neil Rankin & Tasha Naughtin & Carli Bezuidenhout, 2016. "The South African manufacturing exporter story," WIDER Working Paper Series 038, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade destinations; learning-by-exporting; exports; firm-level analysis; propensity score matching; economic development.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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