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The Determinants of Firm Exit from Exporting: Evidence for the UK

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  • Richard I. Harris
  • Qian Cher Li

Abstract

This study seeks to understand to what extent new exporters are able to survive in international markets and whether exit from exporting is more likely to be associated with firm-level heterogeneity or more general factors such as trade costs and/or barriers to entry and exit (such as sunk costs). This study presents the first analysis undertaken for a nationally representative group of UK firms on the determinants of exit from exporting, using panel data covering all market-based sectors of the UK during 1997--2003. Our findings suggest that the probability of a firm ceasing to export is directly influenced by its productivity and other attributes associated with firm-level productivity differences (such as size and foreign ownership). Micro-finance factors, such as profitability and the ability to finance through long-term debt, play an additional role. Lastly, sectoral differences (e.g. industrial concentration) also help explain the firm’s exit decision, whilst trade costs lead to a higher probability of exiting from selling internationally.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard I. Harris & Qian Cher Li, 2011. "The Determinants of Firm Exit from Exporting: Evidence for the UK," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 381-397, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:ijecbs:v:18:y:2011:i:3:p:381-397
    DOI: 10.1080/13571516.2011.618611
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    Cited by:

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    2. M. Padmaja & Subash Sasidharan, 2021. "Financing constraints and exports: evidence from India," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 45(1), pages 118-145, January.
    3. Luis Felipe Beltrán Morales, 2022. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Export Survival from Latin American Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Anna Lejpras, 2019. "Determinants of export performance: differences between service and manufacturing SMEs," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 13(1), pages 171-198, March.
    5. Díaz-Mora, Carmen & Córcoles, David & Gandoy, Rosario, 2015. "Exit from exporting: Does being a two-way trader matter?," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 9, pages 1-27.
    6. Görg, Holger & Spaliara, Marina-Eliza, 2018. "Export market exit and financial health in crises periods," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 87, pages 150-163.
    7. Melaku Abegaz & Sajal Lahiri, 2020. "Entry and Survival in the Export Market: Spillovers from Foreign and Outward-Looking Domestic Firms in Ethiopia," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(4), pages 847-872, September.
    8. M. Padmaja & Subash Sasidharan, 2017. "Sunk Costs, Firm Heterogeneity, Export Market Entry and Exit: Evidence from India," Journal of Quantitative Economics, Springer;The Indian Econometric Society (TIES), vol. 15(2), pages 367-393, June.
    9. Sousa, Carlos M.P. & He, Xinming & Lengler, Jorge & Tang, Linhan, 2021. "Foreign market re-entry: A review and future research directions," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(2).
    10. Andrianos Tsekrekos, 2013. "Irreversible exit decisions under mean-reverting uncertainty," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 110(1), pages 5-23, September.
    11. Chiara Franco & John P. Weche Gelübcke, 2015. "The Death of German Firms: What Role for Foreign Direct Investment?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 677-703, April.

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