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Markups and exporting behavior of foreign affiliates

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  • Zhang, Hongyong
  • Zhu, Lianming

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of exporting on markups for firms in China with a focus on foreign affiliates. Firm markups are first recovered after correcting for both output and input price biases. The analysis reveals that exporters which are affiliates of foreign firms charge, on average, lower markups in their export pricing. The markups are decomposed into price and marginal cost components to show that although exporting increases both price and marginal cost, the price increases are small relative to the increases in marginal cost. Heterogeneous effects of exporting on markups across firms and location are also examined.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Hongyong & Zhu, Lianming, 2017. "Markups and exporting behavior of foreign affiliates," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 445-455.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcecon:v:45:y:2017:i:3:p:445-455
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jce.2016.11.001
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    Cited by:

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    2. Xianhai Huang & Yi Wang & Zhujun Zhu & Xueyin Song, 2022. "Quality of imported intermediates, innovation behaviour and markups: Firm‐level evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(9), pages 2796-2819, September.
    3. Bournakis, Ioannis & Papanastassiou, Marina & Papaioannou, Sotiris, 2020. "Multinationals and Domestic TFP: Market Shares, Agglomerations Gains and Foreign Ownership," MPRA Paper 106626, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Wen Yue & Qingxia Lin, 2023. "Export duration and firm markups: evidence from China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Chih‐Hai Yang, 2021. "Do exporters have markup premiums and why (not)? Evidence from China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(4), pages 956-979, April.
    6. KONDO Keisuke, 2018. "Markup and Market Size: Evidence from Japan," Discussion papers 18017, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. Yang, Chih-Hai, 2023. "Competition in the Chinese market: Foreign firms and markups," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    8. Shen, Guobing & Shen, Binchao & Wu, Ruochen & Yuan, Zhengyu, 2023. "Internetization and the markups of export firms: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Markups; Export; Foreign firms; Firm productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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