## Export Quality in Developing Countries

_IMF Working Papers, May 15, 2013_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Export Quality in Developing Countries](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/export-quality-in-developing-countries-40536)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/export-quality-in-developing-countries-40536/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/export-quality-in-developing-countries-40536/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/export-quality-in-developing-countries-40536/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Christian Henn, Chris Papageorgiou, Nikola Spatafora
- Published: May 15, 2013
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484351635.001

---

### Summary
- This paper develops new, far more extensive estimates of export quality, covering 178 countries and hundreds of products over 1962–2010.
- Quality upgrading is particularly rapid during the early stages of development, with quality convergence largely completed as a country reaches upper middle-income status.
- There is significant cross-country heterogeneity in quality growth rates.
- Within any given product line, quality converges both conditionally and unconditionally to the world frontier.
- Increases in institutional quality and human capital are associated with faster quality upgrading.
- Faster growth in quality is associated with more rapid output growth.
- The evidence suggests that quality upgrading is best encouraged through a broadly conducive domestic environment, rather than sector-specific policies.
- Diversification is important to create new upgrading opportunities.

### Key findings and metrics
- Coverage: 178 countries.
- Product scope: hundreds of products.
- Time span: 1962–2010.
- Quality upgrading: particularly rapid in early development; convergence largely completed by upper middle-income status.
- Cross-country heterogeneity: significant variation in quality growth rates across countries.
- Convergence behavior: quality converges both conditionally and unconditionally to the world frontier within product lines.
- Associations identified:
  - Institutional quality increases → faster quality upgrading.
  - Human capital increases → faster quality upgrading.
  - Faster quality growth → more rapid output growth.

### Policy implications and recommendations
- Encourage quality upgrading through a broadly conducive domestic environment rather than sector-specific policies.
- Promote diversification to create new upgrading opportunities.
- Strengthen institutional quality and human capital as levers to accelerate quality upgrading.

---

## Content in this bundle

- **_wp13108**
  - [_wp13108 (Markdown version)](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2013/_wp13108.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [_wp13108 (PDF)](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2013/_wp13108.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/export-quality-in-developing-countries-40536_