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Import Penetration, Intermediate Inputs and Productivity: Evidence from Italian Firms

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  • Altomonte, Carlo
  • Barattieri, Alessandro
  • Rungi, Armando

Abstract

We test the impact of import penetration on the productivity of a sample of roughly 35,000 Italian manufacturing firms operating in the period 1996-2003, considering the impact on productivity of both import penetration in the same industry and import penetration in the up-stream industries. We find that import penetration has a positive effect on productivity, but the effects are three times as large for import penetration in up-stream industries. Trade-related variables do not account however for the bulk of variation in individual firms' TFP.

Suggested Citation

  • Altomonte, Carlo & Barattieri, Alessandro & Rungi, Armando, 2008. "Import Penetration, Intermediate Inputs and Productivity: Evidence from Italian Firms," Papers DYNREG23, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:esr:wpaper:dynreg23
    Note: DYNREG Research Project - Dynamic Regions in a Knowledge-Driven Global Economy: Lessons and Policy Implications for the European Union
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    Cited by:

    1. Murphy, Gavin & Siedschlag, Iulia, 2012. "The Effect of Real Exchange Rate Changes on Labour Productivity Growth," Papers WP439, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    2. Michele Imbruno & Rosanna Pittiglio & Filippo Reganati, 2015. "FDI, Intermediate Inputs and Firm Performance: Theory and Evidence from Italy," Discussion Papers 2015-15, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    3. Mauro Caselli, 2018. "Do all imports matter for productivity? Intermediate inputs vs capital goods," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 35(2), pages 285-311, August.
    4. Daniela Maggioni, 2013. "Productivity Dispersion and its Determinants: The Role of Import Penetration," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 537-561, December.
    5. Alessandro Olper & Daniele Curzi & Valentina Raimondi, 2017. "Imported Intermediate Inputs and Firms’ Productivity Growth: Evidence from the Food Industry," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 68(1), pages 280-300, February.
    6. Lourdes Moreno & Diego Rodríguez, 2011. "Markups, Bargaining Power and Offshoring: An Empirical Assessment-super-1," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(9), pages 1593-1627, September.
    7. Olper, Alessandro & Pacca, Lucia & Curzi, Daniele, 2014. "Trade, import competition and productivity growth in the food industry," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(P1), pages 71-83.
    8. Clara Graziano & Laura Rondi, 2021. "Product Market Competition, Executive Compensation, and CEO Family Ties," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 58(3), pages 357-397, May.
    9. Stefano Federico, 2014. "Industry Dynamics and Competition from Low-Wage Countries: Evidence on Italy," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 76(3), pages 389-410, June.
    10. Daniele Curzi & Maria Garrone & Alessandro Olper, 2021. "Import Competition and Firm Markups in the Food Industry," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(4), pages 1433-1453, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    DYNREG; import penetration; intermediate inputs; productivity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F - International Economics

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