Sunk Costs, Firm Heterogeneity, Export Market Entry and Exit: Evidence from India

M. Padmaja () and Subash Sasidharan
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M. Padmaja: Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Journal of Quantitative Economics, 2017, vol. 15, issue 2, No 9, 367-393

Abstract: Abstract This paper analyses the role of sunk costs and firm heterogeneity in firm decision to enter and exit export markets. Employing rich firm-level data on Indian manufacturing firms, the study points out that sunk costs in terms of previous export experience significantly explain entry and exit decisions of firms in the export market. The first set of analysis involves estimation of dynamic discrete choice model using random effects probit correcting for initial conditions problem. We find evidence that previous export experience (sunk costs) matters for export decision. However, importance of sunk costs is found to depreciate rapidly. Further, analysis across sub-sample of firms accounting for firm heterogeneity factors like size and product level information supports the hypothesis of sunk costs. Second set of analysis involving firm survival in export markets using discrete-time hazard models shows evidence of negative duration dependence. We observe that those firms which continue to export for few years are less likely to exit from export markets.

Keywords: Sunk costs; Firm heterogeneity; Dynamic random effects model; Proportional hazards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C41 F10 F14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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DOI: 10.1007/s40953-016-0056-1

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