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Learning by exporting and high-tech capital deepening in Singapore manufacturing industries, 1974–2006

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  • Aekapol Chongvilaivan

Abstract

A number of fundamental factors enhance the growth of industries’ productivity. Among others, the export-led and high-tech capital deepening strategies are widely adopted by developing economies. This article attempts to empirically investigate the extent to which both industrial development policies affect the Total Factor Productivity Growth (TFPG) in Singapore manufacturing industries during the period from 1974 to 2006. Using the panel data estimations, I find that both development strategies bring about TFPG via nonneutral technological growth, and the former more largely explains TFPG than does the latter. This study captures the measure of learning by exporting by the lagged export intensity and therefore contributes to the literature, in which only the case of whether or not firms are active in export markets is conventionally employed. Methodologically, my main contributions are a more detailed treatment of (nonneutral) technological changes, and an alternative measure of export intensity.

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  • Aekapol Chongvilaivan, 2012. "Learning by exporting and high-tech capital deepening in Singapore manufacturing industries, 1974–2006," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(20), pages 2551-2568, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:44:y:2012:i:20:p:2551-2568
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2011.566184
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammad Movahedi & Olivier Gaussens, 2013. "Les effets de l’exportation sur l’innovation et la productivité : Analyse empirique sur un échantillon de PMI," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes & University of Caen) 201307, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes, University of Caen and CNRS.
    2. Kazuhiko Yokota & Kyosuke Kurita & Shujiro Urata, 2016. "In Search of the Learning-by-Exporting Effect: Role of Economies of Scale and Technology," China Economic Policy Review (CEPR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 5(01), pages 1-27, June.
    3. Movahedi, Mohammad, 2013. "Le commerce international, l’adoption de l’innovation et le choix de l’entrée-sortie à l’exportation des firmes [International trade, innovation adoption and export entry-exit choice of the firms]," MPRA Paper 44268, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Jan 2014.
    4. Demena, B.A. & Msami, J. & Mmari, D.E. & van Bergeijk, P.A.G., 2021. "Productivity premia and firm heterogeneity in Eastern Africa," ISS Working Papers - General Series 680, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.

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    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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