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Firms' Exporting Behavior under Quality Constraints

Author Info

Listed author(s):
  • Juan Carlos Hallak

    ()

    (Department of Economics, Universidad de San Andres)

  • Jagadeesh Sivadasan

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

We develop a model of international trade with export quality requirements and two dimensions of rm heterogeneity. In addition to \productivity", rms are also heterogeneous in their \caliber" { the ability to produce quality using fewer xed inputs. Compared to single-attribute models of rm heterogeneity emphasizing either productivity or the ability to produce quality, our model provides a more nuanced characterization of rms' exporting behavior. In particular, it explains the empirical fact that rm size is not monotonically related with export status: there are small rms that export and large rms that only operate in the domestic market. The model also delivers novel testable predictions. Conditional on size, exporters are predicted to sell products of higher quality and at higher prices, pay higher wages and use capital more intensively. These predictions, although apparently intuitive, cannot be derived from single-attribute models of rm heterogeneity as they imply no variation in export status after size is controlled for. We nd strong support for the predictions of our model in manufacturing establishment datasets for India, the U.S., Chile, and Colombia.

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File URL: ftp://webacademicos.udesa.edu.ar/pub/econ/doc99.pdf
File Function: First version, 2010
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Paper provided by Universidad de San Andres, Departamento de Economia in its series Working Papers with number 99.

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Date of creation: Mar 2010
Date of revision: Mar 2010
Handle: RePEc:sad:wpaper:99
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Keywords: Productivity; quality; exports; firm heterogeneity;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
  • F10 - International Economics - - Trade - - - General
  • F12 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Models of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Scale Economies; Fragmentation
  • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade

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