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Why Some Firms Export? An Empirical Analysis for Manufacturing Firms in the MENA Region

Author

Listed:
  • Fakih, Ali

    (Lebanese American University)

  • Ghazalian, Pascal L.

    (University of Lethbridge)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the exporting behaviour of manufacturing firms located in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region using data from the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys Database. It specifically examines the factors that determine the probability of exporting and the export intensity of these firms. The empirical specification is represented through a country-specific effect model and through a model with country variables. The empirical results reveal significant positive effects of private foreign ownership, information and communication technology, and firm size on the probability of exporting and on export intensity of MENA manufacturing firms. Government ownership and the relative labour compositions of firms in terms of skilled production workers and in terms of non-production workers tend to exert negative effects on firms' propensity to export. The empirical results from the model with country variables underscore the enhancing effects of national economic development factors on the probability of exporting and on export intensity. Also, they indicate that the propensity to export of these firms decreases with larger domestic market size. The empirical analysis reveals considerable variations in the effects of the determining factors when carrying out the estimation for individual countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Fakih, Ali & Ghazalian, Pascal L., 2013. "Why Some Firms Export? An Empirical Analysis for Manufacturing Firms in the MENA Region," IZA Discussion Papers 7172, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7172
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Anabela Santos & Michele Cincera & Paulo Neto & Maria Manuel Serrano, 2019. "How internationalization and competitiveness contribute to get public support to innovation? The Portuguese case," GEE Papers 0121, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised May 2019.
    3. Nathan Mugumisi, 2018. "Zimbabwean Manufacturing Firms' Propensity and Intensity to Export in the Post Zimbabwean Dollar Era," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(1), pages 42-48.
    4. Ahmed Fayez Abdelgouad & Christian Pfeifer & John P Weche Gelübcke, 2015. "Ownership structure and firm performance in the Egyptian manufacturing sector," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 35(4), pages 2197-2212.
    5. Vu, Hanh & Doan, Hung, 2016. "Vietnamese footwear export:The direction of trade and determinants of firms’ market penetration," MPRA Paper 75566, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Hanh Vu Thi, 2015. "Essays on the Export Performance of Vietnam/Essais sur la Performance à l'Exportation du Vietnam," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/216765, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Youssouf Kiendrebeogo & Alexandru Minea, 2017. "Financial Factors and Manufacturing Exports: Firm-Level Evidence From Egypt," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(12), pages 2197-2213, December.
    8. Anabela Santos & Michele Cincera & Paulo Neto & Maria Manuel Serrano, 2019. "Which projects are selected for an innovation subsidy? The Portuguese case," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 18(3), pages 165-202, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    MENA region; fractional logit model; exporting decision; export intensity; probit model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F4 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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