Learning-by-Exporting and Destination Effects: Evidence from African SMEs

Boermans, Martijn Adriaan (2010): Learning-by-Exporting and Destination Effects: Evidence from African SMEs.

Abstract

Vast empirical evidence underscores that exporting firms are more productive than non-exporters. As governments accordingly pursue export-promoting policies we are interested in the firmness of these conclusions with respect to African small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the influence of the destination of export trade. Using a micro-panel dataset from five African countries we confirm the self-selection. We apply propensity scores to match exporters and use a difference-in-difference methodology to test if African SMEs experience productivity gains because of export participation. Results indicate that African firms significantly learn-by-exporting. Manufacturers obtain significant performance improvements due to internationalization although this effect is moderated by export destination. Firms that export outside Africa become more capital intensive and at the same time hire more workers. In contrast we find evidence that exporters within the African region significantly downsize in capital intensity. Results regarding skill-bias of internationally active firms are mixed, where exporters within the region expand in size and hire more relatively unskilled workers.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: learning-by-exporting, destination effects, firm-level, Africa, propensity scores
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D2 - Production and Organizations > D21 - Firm Behavior: Theory; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O55 - Africa; F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Empirical Studies of Trade; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O12 - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing > L60 - General

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