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Import Penetration, Intermediate Inputs and Productivity: Evidence from Italian Firms

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  • Carlo Altomonte
  • Alessandro Barattieri
  • Armando Rungi

Abstract

We test the impact of import penetration on the productivity of a sample of roughly 35,000 Italian manufacturing firms operating in the period 1996-2003, considering the impact on productivity of both import penetration in the same industry and import penetration in the up-stream industries. We also distinguish the source country of imports. We find that: 1) import penetration has a positive effect on productivity. 2) The effects are much larger for import penetration in up-stream industries than for import penetration in the same industry. 3) Imports from the other European countries and the BRICS have more significant impact on the productivity of Italian firms than imports from the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo Altomonte & Alessandro Barattieri & Armando Rungi, 2014. "Import Penetration, Intermediate Inputs and Productivity: Evidence from Italian Firms," Rivista italiana degli economisti, Società editrice il Mulino, issue 1, pages 45-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:mul:jqat1f:doi:10.1427/76114:y:2014:i:1:p:45-66
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    Cited by:

    1. Murphy, Gavin & Siedschlag, Iulia, 2012. "The Effect of Real Exchange Rate Changes on Labour Productivity Growth," Papers WP439, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    2. Michele Imbruno & Rosanna Pittiglio & Filippo Reganati, 2015. "FDI, Intermediate Inputs and Firm Performance: Theory and Evidence from Italy," Discussion Papers 2015-15, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    3. Mauro Caselli, 2018. "Do all imports matter for productivity? Intermediate inputs vs capital goods," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 35(2), pages 285-311, August.
    4. Daniela Maggioni, 2013. "Productivity Dispersion and its Determinants: The Role of Import Penetration," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 537-561, December.
    5. Alessandro Olper & Daniele Curzi & Valentina Raimondi, 2017. "Imported Intermediate Inputs and Firms’ Productivity Growth: Evidence from the Food Industry," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(1), pages 280-300, February.
    6. Michele Imbruno, & Rosanna Pittiglio, & Filippo Reganati,, 2024. "How do foreign-owned suppliers affect economic performance? Evidence from Italian manufacturing firms," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    7. Lourdes Moreno & Diego Rodríguez, 2011. "Markups, Bargaining Power and Offshoring: An Empirical Assessment-super-1," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(9), pages 1593-1627, September.
    8. Olper, Alessandro & Pacca, Lucia & Curzi, Daniele, 2014. "Trade, import competition and productivity growth in the food industry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(P1), pages 71-83.
    9. Clara Graziano & Laura Rondi, 2021. "Product Market Competition, Executive Compensation, and CEO Family Ties," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 58(3), pages 357-397, May.
    10. Stefano Federico, 2014. "Industry Dynamics and Competition from Low-Wage Countries: Evidence on Italy," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 76(3), pages 389-410, June.
    11. Daniele Curzi & Maria Garrone & Alessandro Olper, 2021. "Import Competition and Firm Markups in the Food Industry," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(4), pages 1433-1453, August.
    12. repec:lic:licosd:33713 is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Import Penetration; Intermediate Inputs; Productivity. JEL classification: F14; F61.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F - International Economics

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