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Market Access, Investment, And Heterogeneous Firms

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  • Alan C. Spearot

Abstract

This article presents a model of international trade in which heterogeneous firms can expand through capital acquisitions. I show that demand elasticities are a crucial element in predicting which firms invest, in what location, and for what reason. High‐productivity firms, who tend to sell goods at a low elasticity, invest for market access (tariff jumping). Middle productivity firms, who tend to sell at a higher elasticity, invest for productivity improvement. The relative value of trade costs dictates which incentive is larger. In equilibrium, trade liberalization can reduce aggregate productivity by reducing an important source of investment demand: foreign firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan C. Spearot, 2013. "Market Access, Investment, And Heterogeneous Firms," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 54(2), pages 601-627, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:54:y:2013:i:2:p:601-627
    DOI: iere.12008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Arijit Mukherjee & Umut Erksan Senalp, 2021. "Firm‐productivity and cross border merger," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 838-859, September.
    2. Monika Mrázová & J. Peter Neary, 2017. "Not So Demanding: Demand Structure and Firm Behavior," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(12), pages 3835-3874, December.
    3. Jesse Mora, 2023. "Export failure and its consequences: evidence from Colombian exporters," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 159(3), pages 697-755, August.
    4. Ziran Ding, 2022. "Firm heterogeneity, variable markups, and multinational production: A review from trade policy perspective," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(5), pages 1311-1357, December.
    5. Doe Fiankor,Dela-Dem & Woubet Kassa & Lartey,Abraham, 2025. "Trade Barriers or Catalysts ? Non-Tariff Measures and Firm-Level Trade Margins," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11024, The World Bank.
    6. Qiu, Larry D. & Wei, Xu & Zhou, Mohan & Zhou, Yi, 2024. "Resource, competition, and the equilibrium effects of innovation subsidies," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 297-322.
    7. Maria Bas & Ivan Ledezma, 2015. "Trade Liberalization and Heterogeneous Technology Investments," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(4), pages 738-781, September.
    8. Ignat Stepanok, 2015. "Cross-border Mergers and Greenfield Foreign Direct Investment," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(1), pages 111-136, February.
    9. Federico J. Diez & Jesse Mora & Alan C. Spearot, 2016. "Firms in international trade," Working Papers 16-25, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    10. Fieler, Ana Cecília & Harrison, Ann E., 2023. "Escaping import competition in China," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).

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