Do export transitions differently affect firm productivity? Evidence across Vietnamese manufacturing sectors

Ngo, Thanh and Nguyen, Canh (2019): Do export transitions differently affect firm productivity? Evidence across Vietnamese manufacturing sectors. Published in: POST-COMMUNIST ECONOMIES (6 October 2019)

Abstract

This paper, by exploring the enriched information in annual Vietnamese enterprise surveys from 2010 to 2015, tries to shed light on the causal effect of the various statuses of export transitions on total factor productivity occurring across 20 manufacturing sectors and during various phases of export transition. The empirical results derived from the system GMM estimation provide evidence of causal direction from export transitions to total factor productivity, after controlling for endogenous variables and taking firm heterogeneity into account. Our results indicate that export effects on productivity are highly dependent on specific manufacturing sectors, and on type of export transition. From the perspective of trade and industrial policies, while supporting the creation of new exporters, some issues related to a high level of subsidy and tax incentives by the government to every exporting firm and export-oriented unit in every manufacturing sector seem to be questionable.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Learning-by-exporting; total factor productivity; export persistence; export fluctuation; export striving; manufacturing sectors
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C2 - Single Equation Models ; Single Variables > C23 - Panel Data Models ; Spatio-temporal Models; D - Microeconomics > D2 - Production and Organizations > D21 - Firm Behavior: Theory; F - International Economics > F1 - Trade > F14 - Empirical Studies of Trade; L - Industrial Organization > L6 - Industry Studies: Manufacturing > L60 - General

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