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Economic geography and misallocation in Pakistan’s manufacturing hub

Author

Listed:
  • Theresa Chaudhry

    (Lahore School of Economics)

  • Muhammad Haseeb

    (University of Warwick)

  • Maryiam Haroon

    (Lahore School of Economics)

Abstract

In this article, we explore whether localization of industries can reduce economic distortions and dispersion in total factor productivity (TFP) among firms in Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province economically. We consider two types of misallocation: (i) dispersion in the distribution of output-based TFP (TFPQ), in particular the survival of low productivity firms in the left tail; and (ii) dispersion in revenue-based TFP (TFPR), indicative of allocative inefficiency. The results are mixed: On the one hand, we find that the distribution of TFPQ is less dispersed in more agglomerated areas, measured by the localization quotient, local productive concentration, and average firm size. At the same time, we find that average TFPQ is also positively related to localization, especially the presence of small firms in the same sector, even though own-firm TFP is lowest for small firms. On the other hand, we do not find evidence that agglomeration improves allocative efficiency measured as deviations in TFPR from the sector average, concluding rather that greater localization of small firms is associated with firms being more output and capital constrained.

Suggested Citation

  • Theresa Chaudhry & Muhammad Haseeb & Maryiam Haroon, 2017. "Economic geography and misallocation in Pakistan’s manufacturing hub," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 59(1), pages 189-208, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:59:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1007_s00168-017-0824-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-017-0824-7
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    Cited by:

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    2. Muhammad Haseeb & Hafezali Iqbal Hussain & Beata Ślusarczyk & Kittisak Jermsittiparsert, 2019. "Industry 4.0: A Solution towards Technology Challenges of Sustainable Business Performance," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-24, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • 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
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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