Productivity and the Decision to Import and Export: Theory and Evidence

Hiroyuki Kasahara and Beverly Lapham

No 2240, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper develops an open economy model with heterogeneous final goods producers who simultaneously choose whether to export their goods and whether to use imported intermediates. The model highlights mechanisms whereby import policies affect aggregate productivity, resource allocation, and industry export activity along both the extensive and intensive margins. Using the theoretical model, we develop and estimate a structural empirical model that incorporates heterogeneity in productivity and shipping costs using Chilean plant-level data for a set of manufacturing industries. The estimated model is consistent with the key features of the data regarding productivity, exporting, and importing. We perform a variety of counterfactual experiments to assess quantitatively the positive and normative effects of barriers to trade in import and export markets. These experiments suggest that there are substantial aggregate productivity and welfare gains due to trade. Furthermore, because of import and export complementarities, policies which inhibit the importation of foreign intermediates can have a large adverse effect on the exportation of final goods.

Keywords: exporting; importing; firm heterogeneity; aggregate productivity; resource allocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 E23 F12 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (80)

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Journal Article: Productivity and the decision to import and export: Theory and evidence (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ces:ceswps:_2240

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