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In the Gains from Trade as Firms Matter, So Do Their Sizes

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  • Sunil Dash

    (Sunil Dash (corresponding author) is Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. E-mail: sunil.dash@hotmail.com)

Abstract

This article examines whether the gains from economic integration agreements (EIAs) vary across firm sizes. The empirical analysis makes use of a unique and unbalanced panel dataset with 1,520 country pairs, firm sizes and EIAs from 2007 to 2017. First, we decompose the aggregate export flows across firm sizes, that is, micro, small, medium and large. Second, we deconstruct the extensive and intensive export margins across firm sizes. The empirical model follows a panel estimator with structural gravity specification and estimates the EIA coefficients by employing three-way (exporter-time, importer-time and country-pair) fixed effects. The results indicate that EIAs positively affect overall export flows for firms of all sizes; however, for large and medium-sized firms, this positive effect is primarily through the intensive margin, whereas, for the small and micro-sized firms, it is exclusively through the extensive margin. JEL Codes: F1, F15

Suggested Citation

  • Sunil Dash, 2024. "In the Gains from Trade as Firms Matter, So Do Their Sizes," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 18(1-2), pages 134-159, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:mareco:v:18:y:2024:i:1-2:p:134-159
    DOI: 10.1177/00252921241296493
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic Integration Agreements; International Trade; Firm Characteristics; Extensive Margins; Intensive Margins;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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