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When do firms learn? Learning before versus after exporting

Author

Listed:
  • Ferran Vendrell-Herrero

    (University of Edinburgh, University of Edinburg)

  • Emanuel Gomes

    (Universidade Nova)

  • Christian K. Darko

    (University of Birmingham)

  • David W. Lehman

    (McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia)

Abstract

Organizational learning begins with experience. However, it remains an open question whether firms learn from a particular type of experience: exporting. This study aims to speak into this debate by examining when learning by exporting occurs. Our core thesis is that the timing of learning by exporting depends on a firm’s home market economic development. Drawing on classic theories of organizational learning, we posit that firms in more developed home markets will enjoy greater opportunities for learning before exporting whereas firms in less developed home markets will enjoy greater opportunities for learning after exporting. The former will be observed as a divergence in productivity among firms from different home markets, whereas the latter will be observed as convergence over time. The proposed hypotheses were tested and supported using longitudinal data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey. A range of theoretical and practical contributions are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferran Vendrell-Herrero & Emanuel Gomes & Christian K. Darko & David W. Lehman, 2025. "When do firms learn? Learning before versus after exporting," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 203-219, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:64:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11187-024-00898-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-024-00898-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Learning-by-exporting; Organizational learning; Home market economic development; World Bank Enterprise Survey; Great convergence; Great divergence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F60 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - General
    • M16 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - International Business Administration
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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