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Why are Manufacturing Plants Smaller in Developing Countries? Theory and Evidence from India

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Poorer countries (and poorer states within India) have a larger share of manufacturing employment in small plants. This paper presents empirical evidence and a theoretical model to show that this relationship is driven by greater demand for lower quality goods in poorer regions, which can be produced efficiently in small plants. First, using data for India, we show that richer households buy higher price goods and larger plants produce higher price products. Second, we develop a model that matches these facts. Finally, we find that our model explains about forty percent of the cross-state variation in the size distribution of manufacturing plants in India.

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  • Anil K. Jain & Siddharth Kothari, 2025. "Why are Manufacturing Plants Smaller in Developing Countries? Theory and Evidence from India," International Finance Discussion Papers 1417, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedgif:1417
    DOI: 10.17016/IFDP.2025.1417
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    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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