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Chinese competition: intra-industry and intra-firm adaptation

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Gampfer

    (European University Viadrina)

  • Ingo Geishecker

    (European University Viadrina
    Aarhus University)

Abstract

This paper quantifies how a small and open economy adapts and thereby shapes to what extent it is exposed to competition from China on the world market. Starting from granular firm-commodity-destination-level sales data for the universe of Danish manufacturing firms we construct counterfactual competition exposure, measured as sales weighted Chinese import shares in the home and all export markets while holding the industry composition, the product as well as the destination mix constant. Without adaptation the competition shock after China’s WTO accession would have been more than one and a half times of what has been readily observable. Besides broad industry-level structural change, intra-industry reallocations and intra-firm adjustments through product and destination switching are important adaptation channels. Furthermore, we find some evidence for dynamic quality differentiation as a relevant adaptation margin.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Gampfer & Ingo Geishecker, 2019. "Chinese competition: intra-industry and intra-firm adaptation," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 155(2), pages 327-352, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:weltar:v:155:y:2019:i:2:d:10.1007_s10290-018-0337-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10290-018-0337-1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Import competition; Competition exposure; China; Structural change; Product similarity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance
    • L6 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing

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