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Firm heterogeneity and aggregate business services exports : Micro evidence from Belgium, France, Germany and Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Ariu

    (University of Geneva, Switzerland,Georgetown University, USA and CRENOS, Italy)

  • Elena Biewen

    (Deutsche Bundesbank)

  • Sven Blank

    (Deutsche Bundesbank)

  • Guillaume Gaulier

    (Banque de France and CEPII)

  • María Jesus González,

    (Banco de España)

  • Philipp Meinen,

    (Deutsche Bundesbank)

  • Daniel Mirza

    (University François Rabelais de Tours, LEO-CNRS (Orleans), Banque de France and CEPII.)

  • Cesar Martín,

    (Banco de España)

  • Patry Tello

    (Banco de España)

Abstract

This paper uses detailed micro data on service exports at the firm-destination-service level to analyse the role of firm heterogeneity in shaping aggregate service exports in Belgium, France,Germany and Spain from 2003 to 2007. We decompose the level and the growth of aggregate service exports into different trade margins paying special attention to firm heterogeneity within countries. We find that the weak export growth of France is at least partly due to poor performance by small exporters. By contrast, small exporters are the most dynamic contributors to the aggregate exports of Belgium, Germany and Spain. Our results highlight the importance of firm heterogeneity in understanding aggregate export growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Ariu & Elena Biewen & Sven Blank & Guillaume Gaulier & María Jesus González, & Philipp Meinen, & Daniel Mirza & Cesar Martín, & Patry Tello, 2017. "Firm heterogeneity and aggregate business services exports : Micro evidence from Belgium, France, Germany and Spain," Working Paper Research 328, National Bank of Belgium.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbb:reswpp:201709-328
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sebastian Benz & Dorothée Rouzet & Francesca Spinelli, 2020. "Firm heterogeneity in services trade: Micro‐level evidence from eight OECD countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(11), pages 2905-2931, November.
    3. João Amador & Sónia Cabral & Birgitte Ringstad, 2019. "International trade in services: firm-level evidence for Portugal," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 18(3), pages 127-163, October.
    4. José L. Groizard & Xisco Oliver & María Sard, 2022. "An account of the exporter wage gap: Wage structure and composition effects across the wage distribution," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(5), pages 1528-1563, May.
    5. Mario Marcel & Diego Vivanco, 2021. "Measuring Small and Medium-Size Enterprises Contribution to Trade in Value Added: The case of Chile 2013-2016," Working Papers Central Bank of Chile 914, Central Bank of Chile.
    6. Alessandro Moro & Enrico Tosti, 2020. "The determinants of service export behaviour in Italian non-financial firms," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 577, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    service exports; firm heterogeneity; cross-country micro data study;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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