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Is Exporting a Source of Productivity Spillovers?

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  • Roberto Alvarez
  • Ricardo A. López

Abstract

This paper investigates whether exporting generates positive productivity spillover effects on other plants operating in the same industry and whether exporting affects productivity of plants in vertically related industries. Using plant-level data from Chile we find that exporters improve productivity of their local suppliers but not of plants that purchase intermediate inputs from them. We also find evidence of horizontal spillovers from exporting. Exporting by foreign-owned plants generates positive spillovers in all directions: to their suppliers, customers, and to other plants in the same industry. Domestic exporters increase productivity of their suppliers and, to a lesser extent, that of plants in the same sector.
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Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Alvarez & Ricardo A. López, 2008. "Is Exporting a Source of Productivity Spillovers?," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 144(4), pages 723-749, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:144:y:2008:i:4:p:723-749
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-008-0167-7
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Exporting; spillovers; productivity; vertical linkages; Chile;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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