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Learning, Prices, and Firm Dynamics

Author

Listed:
  • Olga Timoshenko

    (The George Washington University, Department of Economics and The Elliott School of International Affairs)

  • Paulo Bastos

    (The World Bank)

  • Daniel Dias

    (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System)

Abstract

This paper documents new facts about the joint evolution of firm performance and prices in international markets and proposes a theory of firm dynamics emphasizing the interaction between learning about demand and quality choice to explain the observed patterns. Using data from the Portuguese manufacturing sector, the paper documents that: (1) within narrow product categories, firms with longer spells of activity in export destinations tend to ship larger quantities at similar prices, thus obtaining larger export revenue; (2) older exporters tend to import more expensive inputs; and (3) revenue growth within destinations (conditional on initial size) tends to decline with market experience. The authors develop a model of endogenous input and output quality choices in a learning environment that is able to quantitatively account for these patterns. Counterfactual simulations reveal that minimum quality standards on exports reduce welfare by lowering entry in export markets and reallocating resources from old and large toward young and small firms.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Olga Timoshenko & Paulo Bastos & Daniel Dias, 2016. "Learning, Prices, and Firm Dynamics," Working Papers 2016-11, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
  • Handle: RePEc:gwi:wpaper:2016-11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anne‐Célia Disdier & Carl Gaigné & Cristina Herghelegiu, 2023. "Do standards improve the quality of traded products?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(4), pages 1238-1290, November.
    2. Macedoni, Luca & Weinberger, Ariel, 2022. "Quality heterogeneity and misallocation: The welfare benefits of raising your standards," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr & Ryan Monarch, 2015. "Learning and the Value of Relationships in International Trade," 2015 Meeting Papers 668, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    4. Alessandria, George & Choi, Horag & Ruhl, Kim J., 2021. "Trade adjustment dynamics and the welfare gains from trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    5. Doireann Fitzgerald & Stefanie Haller & Yaniv Yedid, 2024. "How Exporters Grow," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(4), pages 2276-2306.
    6. Olga A. Timoshenko & Erick Sager, 2017. "Uncertainty and Trade Elasticities," Working Papers 2017-8, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    7. Felipe Benguria & Alvaro Garcia-Marin & Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr, 2023. "Trade Credit and Relationships," CESifo Working Paper Series 10465, CESifo.
    8. Ryan Monarch & Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr, 2017. "Learning and the Value of Trade Relationships," International Finance Discussion Papers 1218, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    9. Costas Arkolakis & Theodore Papageorgiou & Olga Timoshenko, 2018. "Firm Learning and Growth," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 27, pages 146-168, January.
      • Costas Arkolakis & Theodore Papageorgiou & Olga A. Timoshenko, 2015. "Firm Learning and Growth," Working Papers 2015-5, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    10. Artuc, Erhan & Bastos, Paulo & Rijkers, Bob, 2023. "Robots, tasks, and trade," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    11. Kim Huynh & Robert Petrunia & Joel Rodrigue & Walter Steingress, 2023. "Exporting and Investment Under Credit Constraints," Staff Working Papers 23-10, Bank of Canada.
    12. Monarch, Ryan & Schmidt-Eisenlohr, Tim, 2023. "Longevity and the value of trade relationships," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    13. Gullstrand, Joakim & Knutsson, Polina, 2019. "The Spatial Dimension of Import Competition," Working Papers 2019:13, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    14. Rigo, Davide, 2024. "The role of firm-to-firm relationships in exporter dynamics," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 121135, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    15. Davide Rigo, 2024. "The role of firm‐to‐firm relationships in exporter dynamics," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 91(362), pages 569-587, April.
    16. Pushan Dutt & Ana Maria Santacreu & Daniel A. Traça, 2022. "The gravity of experience," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(1), pages 213-248, February.
    17. Brendan Epstein & Alan Finkelstein Shapiro & Andres Gonzalez Gomez, 2017. "Financial Disruptions and the Cyclical Upgrading of Labor," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 26, pages 204-224, October.
    18. Andrea Ariu & Florian Mayneris & Mathieu Parenti, 2016. "Providing Services to Boost Goods Exports: Theory and Evidence," Working Papers ECARES ECARES 2016-43, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology

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