How Firms Export: Processing vs. Ordinary Trade with Financial Frictions

Kalina Manova and Zhihong Yu ()

No 11142, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The fragmentation of production across borders allows firms to make and export final goods, or to perform only intermediate stages of production by processing imported inputs for re-exporting. We examine how financial frictions affect companies’ choice between processing and ordinary trade – implicitly a choice of production technology and position in global supply chains – and how this decision affects performance. We exploit matched customs and balance-sheet data from China, where exports are classified as ordinary trade, import-and-assembly processing trade (processing firm sources and pays for imported inputs), and pure-assembly processing trade (processing firm receives foreign inputs for free). Value added, profits and profitability rise from pure assembly to processing with imports to ordinary trade. However, more profitable trade regimes require more working capital because they entail higher up-front costs. As a result, credit constraints induce firms to conduct more processing trade and pure assembly in particular, and preclude them from pursuing higher value-added, more profitable activities. Financial market imperfections thus impact the organization of production across firms and countries, and inform optimal trade and development policy in the presence of global production networks.

Keywords: China; Trade regime; Processing trade; Global value chain; Credit constraints; Heterogeneous firms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F10 F13 F14 F23 F34 G32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-int and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (138)

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Related works:
Journal Article: How firms export: Processing vs. ordinary trade with financial frictions (2016)
Working Paper: How Firms Export: Processing vs. Ordinary Trade with Financial Frictions (2016)
Working Paper: How Firms Export: Processing vs. Ordinary Trade with Financial Frictions (2015)
Working Paper: How Firms Export: Processing vs. Ordinary Trade with Financial Frictions (2015)
Working Paper: How firms export: processing vs. ordinary trade with financial frictions (2015)
Working Paper: How Firms Export: Processing vs. Ordinary Trade with Financial Frictions (2012)
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