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The Origins and Dynamics of Export Superstars

Author

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  • Caroline Freund
  • Martha Denisse Pierola

Abstract

Export superstars are important for export growth and diversification and are typically born large. Firm-level data on manufacturing trade from 32 developing countries show that the top five exporters account for on average nearly one-third of exports, 47 percent of export growth, and a third of the growth due to export diversification over a five-year period. Within countries and industries, export growth is positively correlated with the share of exports in the top five firms. Most of the top five exporters were already large five (or eight) years ago or are new firms; it is rare for these export superstars to emerge from the bottom half of the distribution of firm sizes. For countries where detailed data exist, superstars are producers, not traders, and are primarily foreign owned.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Freund & Martha Denisse Pierola, 2020. "The Origins and Dynamics of Export Superstars," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 34(1), pages 28-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:34:y:2020:i:1:p:28-47.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/wber/lhy011
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    Cited by:

    1. Clément Nedoncelle & Julien Wolfersberger, 2025. "Weather shocks and firm exports in developing countries," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 161(2), pages 743-784, May.
    2. Stjepan Srhoj & Alex Coad & Janette Walde, 2024. "HGX: the anatomy of high growth exporters," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 1695-1720, December.
    3. Zoltán Lakner & Anna Kiss & József Popp & Zoltán Zéman & Domicián Máté & Judit Oláh, 2019. "From Basic Research to Competitiveness: An Econometric Analysis of the Global Pharmaceutical Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Kemal Türkcan & Socrates Majune Kraido & Eliud Moyi, 2022. "Export margins and survival: A firm‐level analysis using Kenyan data," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 90(2), pages 149-174, June.
    5. Jaud, Melise & Cadot, Olivier & Disdier, Anne-Célia & Suwa-Eisenmann, Akiko, 2024. "Big hits in export growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    6. Porcile, Gabriel & Spinola, Danilo & Yajima, Giuliano, 2021. "Patterns of Growth in Structuralist Models: The Role of PoliticalEconomy," CAFE Working Papers 12, Centre for Accountancy, Finance and Economics (CAFE), Birmingham City Business School, Birmingham City University.
    7. Zhao, Xiaoxia & Jia, Chi & Li, Haoru, 2025. "Cost pressure or innovation-driven? Social insurance and firm exporting," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    8. Sun, Meng, 2021. "The Internet and SME Participation in Exports," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    9. repec:hal:wpaper:hal-03753384 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Pattnayak, Sanja Samirana & Chadha, Alka, 2022. "Servicification and manufacturing exports: Evidence from India," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    11. Fukunari Kimura & Mari Pangestu & Shandre M. Thangavelu & Christopher Findlay (ed.), 2021. "Handbook on East Asian Economic Integration," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 18644.
    12. Ivus, Olena & Park, Walter, 2019. "Patent reforms and exporter behaviour: Firm-level evidence from developing countries," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 129-147.
    13. Federico J. Diez & Jesse Mora & Alan C. Spearot, 2016. "Firms in international trade," Working Papers 16-25, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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