Export Orientation and Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Electronic Access:
Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file
Summary:
Analysis of firm-level panel data from three sub-Saharan African economies shows that exporting manufacturers have a total factor productivity premium of 11-28 percent. The data do not allow testing of whether these premiums are caused by selection of more efficient producers into exporting or by learning-by-exporting. By thinking about the mechanisms behind selectivity and learning, however, our finding of higher premiums for direct exporters and exporters to outside Africa could be interpreted as being consistent with learning-by-exporting effects. However, if learning-by-exporting is indeed present in the data, we cannot disentangle its effect on productivity from those of more traditionally recognized channels of international technology diffusion.
Series:
Working Paper No. 2002/089
Subject:
Exports Foreign aid Imports International trade Labor Production Productivity Total factor productivity
English
Publication Date:
May 1, 2002
ISBN/ISSN:
9781451851298/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA0892002
Pages:
30
Please address any questions about this title to publications@imf.org