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The Extensive Margin of Exporting Products: A Firm-level Analysis

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  • Costas Arkolakis
  • Sharat Ganapati
  • Marc-Andreas Muendler

Abstract

To quantify trade frictions, we examine multi-product exporters. We build a flexible general equilibrium model and estimate market entry costs using Brazilian firm-product-destination data under rich demand and market-access cost shocks. Our estimates show that additional products farther from a firm’s core competency come at higher production costs, but there are substantive economies of scope in market-access costs. Market-access costs differ across destinations, falling more rapidly in scope at nearby regions and at destinations with fewer non-tariff barriers. We evaluate a counterfactual scenario that harmonizes market-access costs across destinations and find global welfare gains similar to eliminating all current tariffs.

Suggested Citation

  • Costas Arkolakis & Sharat Ganapati & Marc-Andreas Muendler, 2010. "The Extensive Margin of Exporting Products: A Firm-level Analysis," NBER Working Papers 16641, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:16641
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    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

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