The Origin and Dynamics of Export Superstars

Caroline Freund () and Martha Denisse Pierola

No 11687, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This paper uses firm-level data on manufacturing trade from 40 developing countries to explore how the five largest exporters in a country contribute to export growth and diversification. The origins of these firms are also studied. The data show that the top five exporters account for on average one third of exports, over half of export growth, and almost all of export diversification over a five-year period. Controlling for country and industry-fixed effects, the share of exports in the top five firms increases significantly as exports grow. Most top five exporters were already large five years ago or are new firms; it is extremely rare for these export super- stars to emerge from the bottom half of the firm-size distribution. They are producers, not traders, and are primarily foreign owned.

Keywords: Firm size distribution; Power law; Comparative advantage; Export growth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D22 F14 L11 L25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ind, nep-int and nep-sbm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Origins and Dynamics of Export Superstars (2020)
Working Paper: The Origins and Dynamics of Export Superstars (2016)
Working Paper: The Origins and Dynamics of Export Superstars (2016)
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