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Dissecting Thailand's International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries

Author

Listed:
  • Tosapol Apaitan

    (Researcher, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, Bank of Thailand. Author email: tosapola@bot.or.th)

  • Piti Disyatat

    (Executive Director, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, Bank of Thailand. Author email: pitid@bot.or.th)

  • Krislert Samphantharak

    (Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Dean, School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California, San Diego. Author email: krislert@ucsd.edu)

Abstract

This paper uses transaction-level data from Thailand to study concentration, specialization, and fragility of export activities. The paper shows that although exports have been an integral part of the development strategy of the country for several decades, direct engagement in international trade through exports is a rare activity. Export firms are different from their nonexport counterparts. Export activities are also extremely concentrated. There is a great deal of churning in Thai exports and exporting relationships are highly fragile. The findings highlight some cautions from a micro perspective about an export-oriented development strategy, particularly regarding concentration and vulnerability.

Suggested Citation

  • Tosapol Apaitan & Piti Disyatat & Krislert Samphantharak, 2019. "Dissecting Thailand's International Trade: Evidence from 88 Million Export and Import Entries," Asian Development Review, MIT Press, vol. 36(1), pages 20-53, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:tpr:adbadr:v:36:y:2019:i:1:p:20-53
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julian di Giovanni & Andrei A. Levchenko & Isabelle Mejean, 2014. "Firms, Destinations, and Aggregate Fluctuations," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 82(4), pages 1303-1340, July.
    2. Besedes, Tibor & Prusa, Thomas J., 2011. "The role of extensive and intensive margins and export growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(2), pages 371-379, November.
    3. Andrew B. Bernard & J. Bradford Jensen & Peter K. Schott, 2009. "Importers, Exporters and Multinationals: A Portrait of Firms in the U.S. that Trade Goods," NBER Chapters, in: Producer Dynamics: New Evidence from Micro Data, pages 513-552, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tosapol Apaitan & Chanont Banternghansa & Archawa Paweenawat & Krislert Samphantharak, 2020. "Common Ownership, Domestic Competition, and Export: Evidence from Thailand," PIER Discussion Papers 140, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, revised Jun 2020.
    2. Doungdao Mahakitsiri & Wisarut Suwanprasert, 2020. "Understanding the Bimodality of the Export Intensity Distribution in Thailand," PIER Discussion Papers 139, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, revised Jun 2020.
    3. Tosapol Apaitan & Nasha Ananchotikul & Piti Disyatat, 2017. "Structural Transformation in Thailand: A Perspective Through Product Innovation," PIER Discussion Papers 72, Puey Ungphakorn Institute for Economic Research, revised Oct 2017.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    export firms; export-oriented industrialization; international trade; Thailand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General

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