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Export growth drivers and economic development

Author

Listed:
  • Jesse Mora

    (Occidental College)

  • Michael Olabisi

    (Michigan State University)

Abstract

We offer a new approach that explains long-run export growth, and how export growth varies by economic development. The approach relies on a heterogeneous-firm model that parses drivers of export growth along the following dimensions: comparative advantage changes, product demand growth, country-level growth, global growth, and growth in destinations reached. We show that aggregate trade growth for a product is a stronger driver of exports in the same product heading for high-income countries, but is less so for middle-income and low-income countries. Country-level export drivers explain more of export growth at the product-level in middle-income countries, compared to other country-groups. High-income countries appear to benefit more from secular trade growth trends, though the latter results are not as statistically robust. Finally, having more destinations is the most notable driver of the observed export growth in our analysis. Low-income countries appear to benefit the most from entering new markets. The main findings hold up to several robustness checks.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesse Mora & Michael Olabisi, 2022. "Export growth drivers and economic development," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(5), pages 2389-2426, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:63:y:2022:i:5:d:10.1007_s00181-022-02204-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-022-02204-w
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    1. Spahiu Muhamet J. & Durguti Esat A., 2023. "Impact of Financial Liberalization on Export: Evidence from Kosovo," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 33(2), pages 95-111, June.
    2. Mora, Jesse & Olabisi, Michael, 2023. "Economic development and export diversification: The role of trade costs," International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 102-118.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Development; Margins of trade;

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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